The Private Members Club, is one of London’s oldest and most prestigious private members’ clubs. Renowned for its rich history and deep connections to the British community, the Club has long served as a haven for professionals in various fields. The Club is housed in a historic building that not only acts as a gathering place for its distinguished members but also contains an extraordinary collection of over 1,000 artworks, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and thousands of prints. These pieces are invaluable to the cultural heritage of the institution. Given the importance of the building and its contents, maintaining the highest standards of safety, particularly fire safety, is of paramount importance.
The Challenge
The Private Members Club’s historic structure presents unique challenges in meeting modern fire safety standards. The Club only closes for three weeks each year, during which all maintenance and safety upgrades must be completed. This narrow window requires meticulous planning, coordination, and execution to ensure that the building remains compliant with current fire regulations without disrupting the Club’s operations. Previous contractors had undertaken fire stopping work at the Club, but the standards and quality of these efforts were inadequate. SECOM’s Fire Stopping team was called upon to rectify these deficiencies and bring the Club up to the latest fire safety standards. The scope of work included filling holes with fire stopping sealant, installing fire stopping walls, ceiling guards, and applying fire-resistant sealants throughout the building.
SECOM’s Solution
SECOM’s Fire Stopping team tendered for the project against several competitors, ultimately being chosen for their superior offering and capabilities. As a BAFE-accredited company, SECOM is recognised for its commitment to excellence in fire safety, and this project was no exception. During the three-week maintenance window, SECOM’s team worked diligently to:
- Install Fire Stopping Walls: The team installed new fire stopping walls with access points such as latches and doors. Previously, these areas were left completely exposed, leaving the electrics as an open fire risk. The newly installed walls are designed to contain a fire for up to 120 minutes, significantly exceeding the time required for fire brigade intervention. This enhancement not only protects the structure but also mitigates the risk posed by exposed electrics, ensuring a much safer environment within the building.
- Ceiling Guards and Sealants: SECOM applied fire-resistant sealants and installed ceiling guards to further enhance the building’s fire resilience, particularly in high-risk areas like IT storage spaces. Previously, the wires above the IT storage were exposed, meaning a fire could immediately burn through and cause significant damage. Now, with the addition of fire-resistant panelling, there is an extra 30 minutes of protection, providing critical time for the fire brigade to arrive before the wires become damaged. This added layer of security ensures that the IT infrastructure is better protected against potential fire hazards.
- Fill Gaps and Holes: Previous work had left gaps that could allow fire to spread. SECOM meticulously filled these to prevent any potential breaches. SECOM are undertaking critical work within the riser cupboards to enhance fire containment and prevent the spread of fire between floors. This involves meticulously filling any holes or gaps within the riser cupboards, which could otherwise allow fire and smoke to travel between different levels of the building. By installing fire-stopping barriers and applying fire-resistant sealants, our team is creating a robust containment system that can effectively halt the spread of fire within these vertical spaces. This work is essential in ensuring that any potential fire is contained within a specific area, significantly reducing the risk of it spreading to other parts of the building and thereby safeguarding both the structure and its occupants.
The team’s dedication to precision and quality was evident in the neatness and effectiveness of their work, which stood in stark contrast to the efforts of previous contractors.
Outcome and Impact
Thanks to SECOM’s work, the Private Members Club now meets the latest fire safety standards, ensuring the protection of both its members and its priceless art collection. The quality of SECOM’s work was so impressive that the team has already secured a contract to return in 2025 for additional fire stopping work during the next maintenance window. By securing the building against the risk of fire, SECOM has played a crucial role in preserving the Private Members Club’s heritage and ensuring its continued operation as a hub for London’s professional elite.
Conclusion
SECOM’s Managing Director Satoru Awano, Finance Director, Neil Fanthome Hodgson, Head of Physical Division, Calvin Avery and Head of Marketing Lauren Michael visited The Private Members Club in London. The visit was an opportunity to observe the ongoing work being carried out by the SECOM Fire Stopping team. The team was thoroughly impressed by the exceptional quality of the fire stopping work being performed.
Neil Fanthome Hodgson, Finance Director, commented, “The contrast between the quality of work done by Calvin’s team and some of the previous fire stopping on site was clear to see. This epitomises SECOM’s core value of bringing peace of mind to our customers. Well done to the team for this excellent work.”
SECOM’s Fire Stopping team’s success is a testament to the company’s expertise and commitment to quality. In an environment where history and heritage are as important as safety and compliance, SECOM has proven itself to be a reliable partner.
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