Fire Safety Consultancy for Office Fit-Out

Challenge

When a confidential client sought to establish a new base of operations across multiple floors of an existing office building - a commercial building in the heart of North Dublin City - ensuring the safety of staff, clients, and visitors was paramount.

SOCOTEC Ireland was appointed for fire safety consultancy for the office fit-out only. The building comprises a five-storey office structure over basement level (B, G+4), and the client intended to occupy the ground floor, third floor, and fourth floor of this multi-tenancy building, with the remaining floors occupied by other tenants.

A central challenge was regulatory compliance: the client required formal evidence of compliance with Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations prior to occupation, delivered as a technical due diligence service that did not require BC(A)R. Compounding this was the complexities of a multi-tenancy building, where SOCOTEC's appointment was limited to the tenant's demise only, making it difficult to assess fire safety comprehensively where the shell and core fell outside the agreed scope.

Solution

SOCOTEC's response combined staged site inspections, a certification review, and proactive due diligence assessment going beyond the appointment’s strict boundaries.

SOCOTEC carried out site inspections prior to the commencement of contractor works, throughout the tenant fit-out phase, and again upon practical completion. These inspections allowed the team to observe fire safety provisions in place and to verify compliance with the approved drawings at each key stage of the works.

On completion of the works, SOCOTEC reviewed certification submitted by all relevant parties involved in the project. This certification was referenced within the project's formal compliance table, which in turn supported the issuing of the Opinion of Substantial Compliance.

Beyond the demise-only appointment, SOCOTEC proactively conducted a broader review of the shell-and-core elements of the building. Where non-compliances were identified through this wider assessment, they were carefully documented as a formal addendum to the Opinion, ensuring the client had full visibility of risks outside the immediate scope of works.

SOCOTEC issued a formal Opinion of Substantial Compliance with Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations for the client's demise within the multi-tenancy office block, providing legal and technical evidence that the fit-out works and occupied floors met statutory fire safety requirements.

Alongside this, SOCOTEC documented shell and core concerns as a formal addendum, provided to both the client and the design team for transparency, enabling the client to escalate these matters directly with the building owner.

SOCOTEC's response combined staged site inspections, a certification review, and proactive due diligence assessment going beyond the appointment’s strict boundaries.

Conclusion

SOCOTEC Ireland successfully delivered a comprehensive Opinion of Substantial Compliance with Part B (Fire Safety) for the client's demise, giving the client confidence to proceed with occupation while remaining fully informed of any risks beyond its immediate control.

The key outcomes and benefits delivered to the client included:

Statutory compliance confirmed across the ground, third, and fourth floors, providing a legal evidence base for occupation.
Transparent communication of risk, with shell and core non-compliances formally documented, enabling informed decisions and engagement with the building owner.
Occupant safety assured through rigorous inspection, certification review, and regulatory assessment.
Due diligence beyond the brief, with proactive identification of issues outside scope demonstrating genuine commitment to client welfare and building safety.