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Fire Compliance Delivered in Occupied Residential Housing
Client: Oxford City Council
Project: Fire Compliance Delivered in Occupied Residential Housing
Department: Fire Solutions (Property)
Date of completion: June 2025
Budget: approx £90,000
Summary:
ODS Fire Solutions was contracted by Oxford City Council to carry out essential fire safety improvements at George Moore Close. The property is an accommodation block for older residents (aged 60 and over), making the upgrades particularly important in supporting the safety of more vulnerable occupants. The work formed part of a larger, ongoing initiative to upgrade all council-owned properties to meet modern fire compliance standards. The project focused on the replacement of 21 doors with 30-minute fire-rated models, alongside key passive fire protection upgrades to improve compartmentation and overall building safety.
Requirements:
The project required the installation of 21 FD30-rated fire doors, each compliant with BM Trada certification standards. In addition to the door installations, ODS Fire Solutions was tasked with enhancing the passive fire protection across the site. This included upgrading compartmentation in roof areas and replacing existing loft hatches with compliant alternatives. The work needed to be carried out efficiently and respectfully within occupied residential properties, ensuring minimal disruption to tenants.
Challenges:
Limited access to residential units due to occupancy and scheduling constraints
Tight deadlines within a broader council-led fire safety programme
Navigating confined roof and loft spaces for passive fire upgrades
Solutions:
To address access challenges, the Fire Solutions team maintained close communication with tenants, scheduling work flexibly and providing advanced notice. Two experienced team members were assigned to the project, each completing one high-quality door installation per day. All installations adhered strictly to BM Trada standards, ensuring long-term compliance and readiness for annual inspections.
In parallel, the team carried out targeted upgrades to roof compartmentation and replaced loft hatches with fire-rated alternatives. These improvements significantly bolstered the building’s passive fire protection, aligning with current regulations and best practice standards.
Results:
Over the course of two weeks, 21 compliant fire doors were successfully installed. Passive fire protection measures were upgraded throughout the building, improving safety and structural compartmentation. The site is now fully aligned with BM Trada standards and ready for scheduled annual inspections. Resident disruption was kept to a minimum, with positive engagement throughout the project.
Feedback:
"After the amazing work by Andrew in replacing my door — a job done with real skill and care — I was equally impressed by the professionalism and dedication shown by your team. I'm truly grateful to have this level of service and support through Oxford City Council. You don’t often see this kind of quality and commitment, which is why I wanted to share my appreciation." – Resident of George Moore
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