Passive fire protectionEssex, London and the South East
Fire compartmentation you can prove.
Surveys, fire stopping, fire dampers and fire doors for councils, housing, healthcare and schools. Every breach we find is numbered, photographed and signed off by a certified engineer.
- Photos of every breach, before and after
- Dampers tested on an 18-point inspection
- 700+ occupied housing sites remediated
- FIRAS-certified, from survey to sign-off
We reply within one working day. Lines open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Breach record
Example
No. 0147
Before
During
After
- Located
- Pinned on your drawings
- Measured
- Breach size and rating needed
- Sealed
- Tested, certified system
- Signed
- Named, certified engineer
Trusted where people live, study and are cared for
- 700+ social housing sites for local authorities
- NHS health centres and care homes
- Schools and colleges
- Hotels and commercial estates
- FM partners such as Linton FM Solution
Check your building in a minute.
Five questions, built from our own survey checklist and the rules in our FAQ. You will see the likely gaps straight away. Add your details to unlock the full action plan, with the rule behind each gap and what we would check first.
A guide, not a fire risk assessment. Nothing is sent until you choose to send it.
What do you need to put right?
Start with the job in front of you. Each one ends the same way: records you can show anyone who asks.
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A compartmentation survey
Know what is breached, where, and what it takes to fix.
Our 10-step survey tags every penetration and fault, measures it and pins it on your drawings, from 25 mm gaps to 200 mm voids.
Fire safety surveys -
Fire stopping and remedial works
Breaches sealed with tested systems, photographed at every stage.
FIRAS-certified penetration sealing, cavity barriers and dry-lined partitions, with batts, collars, sealants and fire-rated hatches.
Fire stopping services -
Fire damper testing
Every damper found, tested and on a register.
An 18-point inspection and test for each damper, with cleaning, a damper register and access hatches where a damper cannot be reached.
Fire dampers -
Fire doors
Doors that pass the next inspection, not just this one.
Leaf, frame, seals, gaps, closers and signage checked, then repaired or replaced to the tested specification.
Fire doors
We also install and maintain fire curtains, automatic opening vents and smoke control dampers.
Occupied buildings, put right.
Three recent jobs from our case studies. Each one stayed open while we worked.
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Read the social housing case study (PDF)
700+sites surveyed and remediated
Social housing remediation for local authorities
- Problem
- Compliance issues across occupied homes, with vulnerable tenants and asbestos risks.
- What we did
- Phased surveys and remediation, a 24/7 tenant liaison team and asbestos-aware engineers.
- Result
- Incident-free works, and the trial sites turned into an ongoing programme.
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Read the assisted living case study (PDF)
16riser walls rebuilt to a certified system
Assisted living facility, London
- Problem
- Timber riser walls that were not fire-rated, with fire stopping missing along the escape route.
- What we did
- Removed the timber and built a certified British Gypsum system in double-layer plasterboard, with sealed joints and a 60-minute access hatch.
- Result
- All 16 risers rebuilt in third-party-certified construction, matched to the building’s fire strategy.
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Read the care home case study (PDF)
90 minfire integrity reinstated
Care home, Norfolk
- Problem
- A renovation had broken the compartmentation in the roof voids, above vulnerable residents.
- What we did
- Intrusive surveys, regular site inspections, and certified Firefly cavity closers and Zeus Lite 90:30 systems.
- Result
- Compartmentation back to current regulations, with up to 90 minutes’ integrity and no incidents on site.
A report that stands up as evidence.
If the fire service, an insurer or the Building Safety Regulator asks what was done, you need more than a line saying fire stopping was required.
| A basic survey | A Meritas record | |
|---|---|---|
| What is found | “Fire stopping required” by floor or area | Every breach numbered and pinned on your drawings |
| Proof | A photo or two, if any | Photos of each breach before, during and after |
| Who signs | The company name | A named, certified engineer on every record |
| Fire dampers | Pass or fail | 18-point inspection and a damper register |
| The fix | Another contractor, another survey | The same FIRAS-certified team |
From first call to signed records.
Three steps, with the paperwork done as we go rather than at the end.
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1Tell us about the building
Call or send the form. Hu scopes it with you, often from your drawings and fire risk assessment, and we send a written quote.
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2We survey and tag every breach
Fire strategy, drawings and asbestos register checked first. Then every penetration and fault is tagged, measured, photographed and pinned on the plans.
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3We fix it and sign it off
FIRAS-certified engineers seal each breach, photograph it before, during and after, and sign it off, ready for your golden thread.
What happens after you send the form
- Within one working dayHu calls to understand the building and what you need.
- Survey bookedAt a time that suits the building, out of hours where residents or patients need it.
- Report issuedEvery breach numbered, photographed and in order of priority, in plain English.
- Works and sign-offQuoted in writing, then sealed, photographed and signed off by a certified engineer.
What our clients say.
Rated 5.0 on Google, and trusted by FM teams and estates managers who have to answer for their buildings.
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Hu and the engineers at Meritas were really quick to respond to a request for a fire compartmentation survey at one of our health centres. They came out to site at short notice to complete the survey over two days, keeping us informed of what was being inspected.
David Jones, Operations Manager, health centres. Review on meritas.co.uk
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Their focus on service delivery over profit, particularly amidst evolving fire safety regulations, is a refreshing change from typical contractors.
Gemma Pace, Linton FM Solution. Review on meritas.co.uk
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The Meritas team are great, very personable and always put the customer first, I would highly recommend them.
Amanda Bradfield, five stars, 2019. Review on Google
The people who sign it off.
A Maldon team, founded in 2016. Your enquiry goes to Hu Bojarski, who will scope the job with you himself.
Hu Bojarski
Commercial and Operations Director
Steve Chambers
Managing Director
Jay Park
Project Manager and Compliance Surveyor
Rose Chambers
Projects Co-ordinator
Zahra Yelland
Sales and Project Administrator
Ella-Grace McNab
Marketing and Social Media Manager
Talk to Hu today: 01621 770 834
Based in Maldon, Essex. Working where you are.
- Essex and the East of EnglandOur home patch, from Maldon. Recent work as far as Norfolk.
- London and the South EastIncluding a 16-riser rebuild at an assisted living facility in London.
- Major projects across the UKMulti-site estates and portfolios, planned as one programme.
We work for councils and housing providers, hospitals and care operators, schools and colleges, public sector estates, commercial landlords, developers, main contractors and FM teams.
Questions we are asked most.
Straight answers. More in our full FAQ.
What does a fire compartmentation survey cost?
It depends on the size of the building, how much is hidden above ceilings and in risers, and the access, so we price each survey in writing before we start. A short call is usually enough for us to scope it. If you have drawings or an existing fire risk assessment, send them with your enquiry and the quote will be tighter.
How quickly can you survey and report?
We reply within one working day, and for urgent buildings we can usually get a surveyor out at short notice. One health-centre client had a two-day survey booked straight away and the report issued soon after, in a format their team could act on. Remedial work can then run out of hours if the building has to stay open.
Do you cover our area?
Yes, if you are in the East of England, London or the South East. We are based in Maldon, Essex, and take on major projects across the UK. Recent work includes a care home in Norfolk, an assisted living facility in London and more than 700 social housing sites.
How can we check the work is done properly?
Every fix is photographed before, during and after, and signed off by a certified engineer, so you can see each seal for yourself. Our installers are FIRAS-certified by Warringtonfire, and FIRAS contracts carry a reference number you can check on Warringtonfire’s own register. Nothing rests on our word alone.
What does the survey report include?
Every breach we find, numbered and pinned on your drawings, with photographs, its size, the fire rating it needs and the fix we recommend, in order of priority. It is written without jargon, so it reads as a work plan, and it becomes part of your golden thread of building safety information.
Are your installers third-party certified?
Yes. Meritas is FIRAS-certified by Warringtonfire (certificate EX3550) for penetration sealing, cavity barriers and dry-lined partitions, and has run an ISO 9001 quality system certified by BSI since 2020 (FS 713511). We are also a contractor member of the Association for Specialist Fire Protection. The register links are at the foot of this page.
How often should fire compartmentation be surveyed?
At least once a year as best practice, and always after building work. There is no fixed national interval, but new cabling, pipework, ductwork and refits often breach compartments, so the compartmentation should be re-checked whenever the building changes.
Who is responsible for fire compartmentation?
The Responsible Person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. They must keep fire-resisting walls, floors, doors and seals in good condition. Failing to can lead to enforcement action, prosecution and difficulty with insurance claims, and since the Building Safety Act 2022 the penalties can include imprisonment.
Book a survey.
Two quick steps. Hu will reply within one working day with next steps and a written quote.
Rather talk? Call 01621 770 834, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Or email enquiries@meritas.co.uk