Fire Protection Services: What We Do and Where to Start
By Sebastian Grabowski, DC Fire & Security, Luton. Updated October 2026.
What are fire protection services?
Fire protection services cover everything that limits a fire and gets people out safely. We do fire risk assessments, fire stopping and compartmentation surveys, fire door inspection, repair and installation, and commercial fire alarms to BS 5839-1. Most buildings need several, in a sensible order: assess, survey, fix, then maintain.
Active and passive fire protection
Two halves of the same job.
Active protection reacts when a fire starts. A fire alarm detects it and warns people. Active measures need power or a person to work, and they need testing on a schedule.
Passive protection is built into the structure and works without being switched on: fire-resisting walls and floors, fire doors, fire stopping and cavity barriers. It keeps a fire in one place so the alarm has time to do its job and people have time to leave. Passive protection is where we find the most problems. For the detail, see what is passive fire protection.
The services, each with its own page
Only what we actually do.
| Service | What it answers | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Fire risk assessment | What are the hazards, and is the building managed safely? | Fire risk assessments |
| Fire stopping and surveys | Where are the unsealed gaps in fire walls and floors? | Fire stopping and fire stopping survey |
| Compartmentation survey | Is the building divided as the fire strategy says? | Compartmentation surveys |
| Fire door inspection | Does every fire door work and meet the standard? | Fire door inspections |
| Fire door repairs and remedials | What is wrong with the doors that failed, and what fixes it? | Repairs and remedials |
| Fire door installation | Which doors need replacing with certified doorsets? | Fire door installation |
| Fire alarms | Is the building covered by a properly designed and maintained alarm system? | Fire alarms, commercial and communal, to BS 5839-1 |
Fire risk assessments are led by Sebastian Grabowski, who holds the Level 4 Diploma in Fire Risk Assessment, and follow PAS 79-1 style. Fire door installation, repair and fire stopping are carried out by our BM TRADA Q-Mark / FIRAS-certificated contractors.
How the services fit together in a real building
Order matters. Doing repairs before you know what is wrong wastes money.
- 1Assess. A fire risk assessment shows the hazards, the escape routes and what else needs checking. It is a legal duty for the responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
- 2Survey. The assessment will often point at things it could not fully check. A fire door inspection and a fire stopping survey give you a photographed, numbered list of what is wrong.
- 3Fix. Repairs, replacement doors and fire stopping, priced from that list, so the cost comes from a real count and not a guess.
- 4Maintain. Doors re-checked on a regular cycle, the alarm tested weekly and serviced twice a year, and the risk assessment reviewed when anything changes.
A fire risk assessment is a separate service from a fire door inspection. Neither replaces the other, and neither replaces a fire stopping survey. They sit side by side.
Which one to start with
Pick the row that sounds like you.
| Your situation | Start with |
|---|---|
| You have no fire risk assessment, or it is out of date | Fire risk assessment |
| You manage flats or an HMO and want to know about the doors | Fire door inspection, see fire door regulations for flats |
| A door inspection failed | What to do after a failed inspection, then remedials |
| Cabling or M&E work was done and nobody sealed behind it | Fire stopping survey |
| Your assessor said compartmentation could not be checked | Compartmentation survey, with compartmentation explained first for the background |
| The alarm is old, keeps going off or has no service record | Fire alarm servicing, and see fire alarm testing for what you should be doing weekly |
| You are taking on new commercial premises | Fire safety for new premises, then a fire risk assessment |
What we do not do
Being clear saves you a call.
Our fire alarm work is commercial and communal buildings to BS 5839-1. We do not work on domestic smoke alarms. If you are not sure whether something falls under our services, send us a photo and we will say so.
What it costs
Rough guides first, then a fixed price once we know the building.
A fire door inspection starts from £250 + VAT for a small building. A fire risk assessment starts from about £550 + VAT for a small commercial premises. A fire alarm service visit starts from about £400 + VAT for a small system. Fire door repairs are usually £150 to £900 a door. Fire stopping and compartmentation survey prices depend on floor area and risers, so we confirm them from your drawings or photos. We usually come back with a fixed price the same day.
Sources
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Fire safety in the workplace: your responsibilities (GOV.UK)
- Approved Document B: Fire safety (GOV.UK)
Updated October 2026 by Sebastian Grabowski, DC Fire & Security, 2 Winsdon Court, Luton LU1 5LZ.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between fire protection and fire prevention?
Is a fire risk assessment the same as a fire door inspection?
Which fire protection service is a legal requirement?
Can you do everything in one visit?
Can you look after this on a yearly cycle?
Where do you work?
Tell us what the building has and what worries you
Email your last fire risk assessment, door report or a few photos to info@dcsecurity.co.uk, or use the form. We will say which service to start with. Luton, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and London.
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