Fire Protection of a Mezzanine Floor in Chippenham

Client: Bentley Model Railway Group
Value: £4.75k

Bentley Model Railway Group contacted us to provide fire protection of an existing mezzanine floor to allow them to fully utilize the space in their unit. Other minor works included removing and the air conditioning unit and re-positioning the staircase. The air conditioning unit had to be removed by an accredited installer to ensure that any remaining gas in the system was reclaimed and recycled as required by the F Gas regulations. Many companies would not bother with doing things properly and just remove it, but we always do things right and comply with any regulations that may be relevant to what we do.

Structural Fire Protection & Regulatory Compliance

To facilitate the client’s operational requirements for the first-floor space, it was necessary to install a comprehensive 60-minute fire protection system to the underside of the existing steel mezzanine structure. The client was advised by the local Building Regulations officer to Wiltshire Council that they had to do this. The actual detail of how, is where we come in and offer the advice, costs and can physically do the work.

The specification included the following fire-rated components:

Structural Steelwork: Column encasements providing 1-hour integrity, featuring a two-part “snap-on” design with a pre-finished white coating for a seamless aesthetic.
Horizontal Partitioning: A high-performance, 1-hour fire-rated suspended ceiling system installed beneath the mezzanine deck.
Perimeter Protection: 1-hour fire-rated bulkheads installed along the leading edges, constructed using high-density FireLine moisture-resistant and fire-resistant plasterboard.

This integrated solution ensures full compliance with Building Regulations regarding structural steelwork. By achieving a certified 60-minute rating, the installation provides critical structural stability and maximizes the available escape time for occupants in the event of an emergency.