Protecting spaces, Safeguarding your future

At Sycamore our focus is on maintaining customer relations and compliance in the ever changing world of passive fire protection with a quality driven approach

As a specialist passive fire protection company, we deliver a full turnkey service, from initial assessments and surveys, passive fire installations and complete pre-planned maintenance packages for quarterly, half yearly and annual inspections.

We make sure you are compliant - through inspection, fire risk assessments, surveys, maintenance, and consultancy services and we offer solutions for 3rd party accredited installations

Sycamore are a new dynamic company, with a passion for fire safety in the built environment, bringing together some of the best talent in the fire safety industry.

With over 80 years collective experience, our teams extensive knowledge and expertise will ensure your project is delivered effectively, efficiently and of the highest quality.

Craig Bendall

Director

Craig's extensive experience as a strong effective leader, has always ensured service improvement, financial savings, enhanced customer service and delivery whilst offering and implementing innovative ideas.

These forward-thinking initiatives, alongside traditional platforms, have promoted growth, change and development within some highly pressurised working environments.

Craig has over 33 years’ experience in the construction, housing and facilities management industries working in commercial and operational roles.

From mobilisation, bid activity and stabilisation of business, through to the completion of projects, Craig has the drive and ability to lead, motivate and manage effectively.

Ken Turner

Commercial Director

Ken drives commercial management with experience, credibility and acumen, with a skill set of strategic thinking, negotiation and pragmatic common sense, underpinned by extensive contractual expertise and hands on practical experience.

Ken’s mantra is always “keep it simple,” setting clear and distinct boundaries for the mutual benefit of subcontractors and Clients as a good business relationship is only worth having if it flows both ways.

With over 30 years’ experience in construction, Ken has worked for international and UK national main contractors, national house builders & developers, regional main contractors, local contractors and building maintenance and niche specialist contractors.

Aaron Carter

Operations Director

Aaron drives all aspects of project delivery, working in partnership with clients to make sure the job is done efficiently and effectively, first time.

With over 22 years as an experienced operations manager, Aaron has a demonstrated history of working and leading a team in the construction industry.

Aaron is a strong operations professional, skilled in CDM, design management and operations management within the passive fire protection industry.

What is Passive Fire Protection?

Passive fire protection is components or systems of a building or structure that slows or impedes the spread of the effects of fire or smoke without system activation, and usually without movement.

Passive fire protection systems are intended to:

• Contain a fire to the compartment of fire origin
  
• Slow a fire from spreading from the compartment of fire origin
  
• Slow the heating of structural members
  
• Prevent the spread of fire through intentional openings (e.g., doors, HVAC ducts) in fire rated assemblies by the use of a fire rated closure (e.g., fire door, fire damper)
  
• Prevent the spread of fire through penetrations (e.g., holes in fire walls through which building systems such as plumbing pipes or electrical cables pass) in fire rated assemblies by the use of fire stops
  

Passive Fire Protection products

The demands placed on passive fire protection have become increasingly complex in recent years, partly because of pressures to improve thermal insulation and reduce energy costs.

PFP products that are installed in a building to improve its fire safety include:

• Fire doors
• Fire-resisting walls, floors, ceilings, and ducts
• Firestopping and fire protection for structural members
• Fire-resistant epoxy coatings that can be spray applied
• PFP sheet
• Fire-protective boxes or wardrobes
• Protection for vital equipment such as first-aid boxes, oil or gas tanks, or other volatile sites to prevent the risk of explosion.

Passive fire protection systems may be part of the fabric of a building, or added after it is constructed. PFP products should be fit for purpose and properly maintained. They must have been tested, assessed, and certified by third party certification, to independently verify the competency and quality of the workmanship of companies manufacturing, installing, and maintaining them.

Our main areas of focus and expertise are:

Fire Risk Assessment

A fire risk assessment is required by the Fire Safety Order to assess fire safety risks relevant to both workplaces and buildings with 2 or more sets of domestic premises. It is the duty of the responsible person to ensure that this is carried out, although they may appoint someone on their behalf, such as a competent fire risk assessor, to carry it out.

Employing Sycamore to undertake your Fire Risk Assessment will ensure that your assessment is suitable and fully compliant

Regulation 10 Fire Door inspections

Regulation 10 applies to all blocks of flats (or parts of such blocks) that incorporate common parts, regardless of whether the block is purpose-built or is a conversion; for the purpose of this legislation, flat entrance doors are included within the meaning of common parts.

Sycamore will inspect your doors at quarterly intervals and undertake any remedial work necessary to ensure you are fully compliant. Worryingly, of all fire doors inspected in 2021 by the fire door inspection scheme, found that three quarters of all fire doors were not fit for purpose!

More information about regulation 10 can be found here

Fire Door Installation

Installation of a fire door is as life critical as the product specification itself and should only be carried out by someone who is competent, has been specifically trained to install fire doors and understands their responsibilities in getting it right.

Fire doors that are incorrectly installed and fitted with incompatible components invalidate certification and will not provide adequate protection for occupants or the building.

Fire Door Remedials

Fire door remedials refer to the necessary actions and improvements made to fire doors to ensure they function correctly and meet safety standards. This includes repairs, maintenance, and upgrades.

Properly maintained fire doors can prevent the spread of smoke and fire, providing occupants with a safe means of escape. Failure to address fire door issues can lead to non-compliance with building regulations and increased fire risks.

NFC Asset Tagging & Asset Register Set Up

Inspection tags play a significant role in simplifying the fire safety compliance process. The are needed to meet legal requirements, employee/resident safety and for property protection

Intumescent Coatings

Intumescent coatings are a type of paint that expands when exposed to heat or fire. This expansion creates a layer of insulating foam that protects the underlying substrate from the heat of the fire. These coatings can be applied to a wide range of surfaces, including steel, concrete, and wood.

Flame Retardant Coatings

Fire retardants are used to control the outbreak of a fire and can be used on walls, ceilings, floor and many other surfaces. Their main purpose is to delay or even stop the spread of fire over your surfaces.

There are many different types of fire retardant paint, with some having chemicals that emit gases that are designed to reduce the spread of flames. Others will form a protective char layer which will help protect the surface for a specific length of time.

It is important to use these paints in an environment where there is a lot of fire exposure or high risk of the spread of fire with flammable products, as it will delay the spread of the fire and allow for more time to stop the fire from causing further damage.

Compartmentation

Compartmentation is the process of dividing a structure into ‘compartments’ for effective risk management. Each compartment is reinforced by using fire-resistant materials and by installing protective measures such as fire doors or cavity barriers. By dividing buildings into fire-resistant compartments, it is more likely that a fire can be effectively contained and suppressed reducing risk to life and damage to property.

Fire Stopping

Fire stopping is the task of compartmentalising smoke and heat to prevent and delay the spread of a fire.

It refers to the process of filling openings and joints between walls and floors with fire-resistant material, inhibiting the spread of fire between ‘compartments’ within a building.

Fire stopping is a fundamental part of passive fire proofing.

Fire Barriers

Fire barriers are continuous construction assemblies that are designed and constructed to achieve specific fire resistance ratings, and to limit the spread of heat and fire and restrict the movement of smoke. Fire barriers may be structural (walls, ceilings, floors) or non-structural and supported by other interior structures.

Fire barriers can be made of various materials such as concrete, ceramic or steel

Air Sealing

Air sealing applications play a crucial role in fire protection by preventing the spread of fire and smoke through gaps, cracks, and other openings in a building's structure.

Maintenance

Let us provide on-going peace of mind with our pre-planned maintenance programmes.

We will ensure you are fully compliant in passive fire protection law, protecting your assets and more importantly preserving life.

Step 1 - Client obtains Fire risk assessment

An independent fire risk assessment is carried out on the clients behalf and the findings shared

step 2 - CLIENT ENGAGES SYCAMORE SOLUTIONS

Client approaches Sycamore with findings and provides brief on project in scope

STEP 3 - COMPARTMENTATION SURVEY

Sycamore perform a full compartmentation survey on the project

STEP 4 - SURVEY BRIEF

Sycamore engage the client and provide a remediation strategy along with associated quote

STEP 5 - SYCAMORE PERFORM WORKS

Working closely with the client and residents, we carry out the work, minimising disruption and providing regular updates

STEP 6 - HANDOVER

Work is brought to a close and Sycamore Solutions provide a full handover report

STEP 7 - AFTERCARE

Our commitment to the client doesn't stop ​at project close - we provide aftercare ​services, advice and support