High-rise buildings present unique and complex fire safety challenges. Recent events across the UK have highlighted the critical importance of effective passive fire protection, compartmentation and clearly defined fire strategies.
At Marlowe Environmental Services, we provide specialist fire safety services tailored specifically to high-rise residential, commercial and mixed-use buildings, ensuring compliance, protecting occupants and supporting Responsible Persons in meeting their legal duties.
Unlike low-rise structures, high-rise buildings often operate under varying fire strategies depending on:
In many high-rise buildings, a “stay put” strategy is adopted. This relies heavily on the integrity of fire compartmentation. If passive fire protection fails, the strategy itself can be compromised.
Because evacuation times can be longer, fire protection systems in high-rise environments often require:
Passive fire protection in high-rise buildings must protect:
Key elements include:
Failure in any one of these elements can allow fire and smoke to spread rapidly between floors.
High-rise buildings are subject to strict legislative oversight, including:
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Building Safety Act 2022
Approved Document B
BS 9999 – Fire Safety in the Design, Management and Use of Buildings
Relevant BESA and industry guidance
Responsible Persons and Accountable Persons must demonstrate that fire safety systems are:
Non-compliance can result in enforcement notices, prosecution and significant reputational risk.
Marlowe Environmental Services has extensive experience working within high-rise residential and commercial buildings. We understand the operational, logistical and safety challenges involved – including resident communication, restricted access, and working within occupied environments.
Our comprehensive scope of works includes:
Fire damper testing
Fire damper installation and replacement
Fire stopping inspections and remedial works
Compartmentation surveys
DW144 access door installation
Fire door inspections
Asset tagging and register creation
Digital reporting and compliance documentation
This integrated approach ensures that all elements of passive fire protection work together effectively.
All our engineers operate using bespoke digital reporting software, enabling live completion of documentation on site.
Clients receive:
Detailed reports
Photographic evidence
Asset condition status
Remedial recommendations
Compliance summaries
High-rise buildings demand the highest levels of workmanship and oversight.
Our approach includes:
Rigorous pre-planning and risk assessment
Competent, trained engineers
Installation in accordance with tested systems
Clear documentation of any non-compliance
Practical, cost-effective remedial solutions
We understand that poor installation or inadequate fire stopping in a high-rise environment can have catastrophic consequences. Quality and compliance are non-negotiable.
The height of the building increases evacuation time and complexity. Fire and smoke spread can affect multiple floors, and compartmentation must perform exactly as designed to protect occupants.
A stay put strategy means occupants remain in their flats unless directly affected by fire. This strategy depends entirely on effective fire compartmentation and properly functioning passive fire protection systems.
Fire dampers must be tested at least annually under BS 9999, with more frequent inspection in certain environments. Accurate asset registers are essential in high-rise buildings.
Responsible Persons should maintain inspection reports, remedial records, asset registers, photographic evidence and compliance certificates to demonstrate due diligence.
Yes. With appropriate planning, communication and risk assessment, works can be conducted safely and efficiently within occupied buildings.
Working in high-rise environments requires:
We work collaboratively with property managers, housing associations, facilities managers and building safety teams to deliver compliant solutions with minimal operational impact.
