The Challenge
Our client required a smoke vent within a newly refurbished office block at Great St Helens to be sealed and fully airtight in preparation for testing. The vent system contained multiple joints and voids along the smoke shaft which needed to be properly sealed to comply with fire safety standards and ensure system integrity.
Due to the location and configuration of the smoke shaft, conventional access methods were limited, and the sealing works had to be completed without impacting ongoing building operations.
Our Solution
Steel Peaks deployed a team of IRATA-qualified rope access technicians to access the smoke shaft safely and efficiently. This project demonstrates our expertise in delivering specialist fire safety system maintenance within occupied commercial buildings where maintaining system integrity is critical for life safety compliance.
Following detailed system inspection and void identification, all joints and voids were sealed using specialist fire-retardant products, ensuring compliance with fire safety regulations and maintaining the integrity of the vent system. The selection of appropriate fire-rated sealing materials is crucial - they must maintain their integrity under both normal operating conditions and during fire scenarios when the smoke vent system activates.
The works were carried out under a site-specific rescue plan and in full accordance with the client's health and safety procedures. Upon completion, the smoke vent was fully airtight and ready for testing, providing the client with confidence in the functionality and safety of their newly refurbished office block.
Project Outcome
- Complete sealing of all joints and voids in smoke shaft
- Fire safety compliance achieved using specialist fire-retardant products
- Airtight system integrity confirmed and ready for testing
- Zero operational disruption to occupied office building
- Rapid access solution where conventional methods were impractical
- Building handover support enabling commissioning to proceed
- Life safety system functionality assured for building occupants
Smoke Vent Systems and Fire Safety Compliance
Smoke ventilation systems are critical life safety installations in modern office buildings, designed to remove smoke and heat during fire emergencies, maintaining tenable conditions for building evacuation and firefighting operations. For these systems to function correctly during an emergency, they must be properly sealed during normal conditions to prevent unwanted air leakage that could compromise smoke clearance performance.
As an experienced rope access contractor working on building services installations, Steel Peaks understands the specific requirements of smoke control systems and the regulatory standards they must meet. Our technicians are trained in working with fire safety systems, using appropriate fire-rated materials, and maintaining strict quality control to ensure system integrity. The rope access approach enables us to reach smoke shafts and ventilation systems that would otherwise require complex temporary access structures or building occupancy disruption.
Fire-Rated Sealing Requirements
Sealing smoke ventilation systems requires specialist knowledge and materials:
- Fire-Retardant Products: All sealants must maintain integrity at elevated temperatures during fire scenarios
- Smoke-Tight Performance: Seals must prevent air leakage under both positive and negative pressure conditions
- Material Compatibility: Sealants must be compatible with shaft construction materials and system components
- Durability Requirements: Products must maintain performance throughout building lifecycle
- Regulatory Compliance: All materials and installation methods must meet Building Regulations Approved Document B requirements
- Testing Preparation: Sealing must allow system to achieve specified leakage rates during commissioning tests
Post-Refurbishment Fire Safety Works
Newly refurbished office buildings often require last-minute fire safety system adjustments to achieve commissioning standards. Smoke vent sealing is typically identified during pre-commissioning pressure testing when excessive air leakage is detected. Traditional access methods for remedial sealing works can cause significant delays to building handover schedules and require scaffolding or internal platforms that disrupt newly completed fit-out works.
Rope access provides an ideal solution for these scenarios - rapid mobilisation without equipment setup delays, precise access to identified void locations, minimal disruption to completed refurbishment works, and immediate availability when commissioning tests identify sealing requirements. For developers and main contractors working to tight handover deadlines, this rapid-response capability can be critical to project programme completion.
Working in the City of London
Great St Helens is located in the heart of London's financial district, where building regulations, access restrictions, and operational considerations demand specialist contractors who understand City requirements. Our experience working throughout EC postcode areas ensures we can deliver fire safety works efficiently while meeting the exacting standards expected for commercial office buildings in prime London locations.
Related Services
In addition to smoke vent sealing, Steel Peaks provides comprehensive building services maintenance including ventilation system access, mechanical plant maintenance, fire stopping works, MEP installation support, and commissioning preparation services. Our team works closely with mechanical contractors, commissioning engineers, and building control authorities to ensure building systems meet all regulatory and performance requirements.
Fire Safety System Access Solutions
Whether you require smoke vent sealing, fire stopping works, ventilation system access, or other building services maintenance in difficult-to-reach locations, Steel Peaks provides professional rope access solutions throughout London and the UK.
Contact us about fire safety works or call us on 07791 396899 for rapid-response building services access.