In this final part of our Fire Saving case study series, we show how we made savings by supporting a Fire Team with inspections, cost control, and compliance improvements.
Overview
So often, Internal staff struggle to maintain their role as inspections, instead getting drawn into internal administration and meetings.
Description
Clear Safety was appointed to support the periodic inspections of a Fire Team. Four full-time internal fire surveyors had become absorbed in internal management and communication were supported by Clear Safety, and the general inspection regime was replaced with a cost-control regime that was previously not present. We were empowered to robustly challenge all contractors and pre-inspect much of the FRA remedials to rationalise and evidence what works are required from quite general statements.
We challenged the incumbent contractors, who have previously been resistant to any idea of proportionate and reasonable responses to risk and financial control. We supported the new fire manager and his team through a difficult period of technical analysis of overdue works.
Savings
Clear Safety provides the administration for the approval process, which saves the Fire team having dedicated members of staff to administer this. In total, we estimate the personnel benefit from not requiring an additional:
- Technical fire lead
- 4 fire surveyors
- 2 administration staff.
Clear Safety carried out 721 post-inspection visits, with an associated contractor value of £700,599.37, resulting in savings of £202,409.89 (28.9%).
By restricting contractor expenditure by £202,409.89 against our own chargeable fees of £132,000.00 over the period (6 months). Therefore, the aggregated cost of our inspection regime, technical advice and management of contractors could be described as a saving of £70,409.89, having replaced a regime that was previously costing an estimated £55,000 per month. This could translate into an overall saving of over £400,000.00, whilst improving the compliance position.
Below is an example of how we saved some of the £202,409.89:
Clear Safety were asked to carry out a site inspection/quotation check regarding the replacement of AOV systems in four small blocks of flats in London. The contractor had specified that the AOVs were now obsolete, did not meet current fire regulations, and required full replacement.
We firstly noted within the last FRA the assessor had stated the AOV system for these blocks was adequate and met requirements for stair ventilation within the fire guidance of the time.
We then ascertained requirements for the AOV systems using current fire safety in Approved Document B and Building Regulation documents that stood at the time the building was constructed. We indicated to our client there was no need to complete works retrospectively using current regulations unless a new risk had arisen, as highlighted in the FRA. In fact, through guidance, we realised the systems were over-specified for the time.
We then checked previous maintenance records for the systems in place and noted any remedial works carried out. This showed very little maintenance/upgrade works had been carried out during the life of the AOVs, indicating a fully working active fire protection system.
Using all gathered information, we carried out a site visit to provide reassurance to our client that contractors specified work/quotation was not required. Ultimately, this gave a saving of 66K to residents of these blocks, who would have been served with a Section 20 notice for fire safety upgrades. Our client had avoided any further process in serving the notice together with any subsequent lengthy appeals and possible negative publicity, whilst maintaining compliance.
Intro:
Clear Safety partnered with a housing provider’s Fire Team to introduce a cost-control regime, saving £202,000 and improving compliance.
Client Challenge
Internal fire surveyors were tied up in admin and meetings, leaving inspection regimes under pressure and costs escalating.
Our Approach
- Took over inspection and approvals administration.
- Introduced a robust cost-control process.
- Challenged over-specified contractor works and rationalised FRA remedials.
The Result
- 721 post-inspection visits
- £700,599.37 contractor value reviewed
- £202,409.89 saved (28.9%)
- Replaced a £55K/month regime with a structured, compliant process.
Key Stats
- £202K saved in 6 months
- £70K net saving after fees
- Potential £400K+ long-term saving
Want to improve compliance and cut costs? Get in touch.
See other articles in the Fire Saving case study series:
- Fire Door Compliance Case Study: £138,000 Saved Through Expert Inspection
- Fire Compartmentation Case Study: £130,000 Saved with Proportionate Works
