Overview
Housing 21 appointed Global HSE Group to provide fire scrutineering support on a new development in Guisborough, with Vistry Group acting as Principal Contractor.
Housing 21 is a leading not-for-profit provider of Retirement Living and Extra Care housing for older people. Its developments are designed to help residents live independently, with access to care and support where required.
Global was appointed to provide an independent review of fire safety measures during construction, raise any concerns early, and help the project team build confidence that the works were being delivered in line with the fire strategy, relevant guidance and manufacturer requirements.
For a development that would become home to older residents, this was especially important. Fire safety details needed to be reviewed while they were still visible and accessible, not left until the end of the build when issues can be harder, slower and more expensive to resolve.
The Role of the Fire Scrutineer
Global HSE Group’s role was to review and comment on fire safety measures as the construction of the building progressed. This meant providing a practical review of what was happening on site, identifying anything that needed clarification, and helping the team deal with issues before they became more difficult to resolve.
This included areas such as structural steel protection, fire stopping, riser cupboards, protected shafts, fire doors and other elements linked to the building’s fire strategy.
A Proactive Principal Contractor
What stood out on the Guisborough project was the way Vistry engaged with the process.
During site visits, Global’s Fire Scrutineer walked the site, took photographs, made notes and reviewed works in progress. After the walkaround, the findings were discussed directly with Vistry’s site team. This meant urgent points could be talked through there and then, rather than waiting for the formal report to be issued.
Where items needed immediate attention, Vistry were proactive. The site team listened, asked questions, spoke to subcontractors and started gathering evidence. In some cases, changes were made before the final report had even been issued.
Acting Early, Before Issues Become Harder to Fix
One example related to fire boarding around structural steel. During a site review, Global identified that some board joints appeared to have been installed in line with each other, rather than staggered in accordance with typical manufacturer requirements. If left unresolved, this could have created a potential weak point.
The issue was raised with Vistry’s site team, who acted quickly. The relevant boards were stripped back, adjusted and reinstated to create the required stagger. By the time the report was being completed, the issue was already close to being closed out.
Other observations related to details such as screw spacings, fire protection and works that were still in progress. These are exactly the types of items that can become much harder to deal with later if ceilings, finishes or services are installed over the top.
Building Confidence Through Evidence
Where clarification was needed, Vistry engaged with subcontractors and requested manufacturer information, technical data sheets or photographic evidence. This allowed Global to review the response and close items out where the evidence supported it.
For Housing 21, this provided confidence that its Principal Contractor was engaging properly with the fire safety review process. For Vistry, it helped show that issues were being taken seriously and dealt with in a timely way. For Global, it meant the team could provide advice that was practical, proportionate and focused on the finished building.
A Smoother Route to Completion
The Guisborough project showed the benefit of dealing with fire safety details at the right time.
Because the site team was open to scrutiny and willing to act quickly, the process supported progress rather than disrupting it. Issues were discussed early, evidence was gathered, and corrective actions were taken before they became more difficult to manage.
By the later stages of the project, including the pre-occupation fire risk assessment, there was clearer evidence in place and a better level of confidence in the fire safety measures that had been installed. This helped support a smoother route to handover and occupation.
The Value of Fire Scutineering
Fire scrutineering does not replace the responsibilities of the design team, Principal Contractor or Building Control. It provides an additional check during construction, when details can still be reviewed, questioned and corrected.
On the Guisborough project, that process worked well because all parties approached it in the right way. Housing 21 wanted confidence in the building. Vistry engaged openly with the process. Global provided practical, independent advice based on what was seen on site.
The result was a positive working relationship and a project where fire safety issues could be raised, discussed and resolved as part of the construction process.
