The cost of a technical note can vary significantly, as it’s not a standardised product like a fixed-price service. Instead, it’s a bespoke document tailored to a specific technical challenge or detail. Please contact us to receive a technical note quote.

Anyone involved in the design, construction, approval, or ongoing management of a building’s fire safety aspects may need a technical note if it provides specific, detailed technical information relevant to their role in achieving or maintaining fire safety. It acts as a supporting document to the broader Fire Strategy and the regulatory requirements.

During Design Development (beyond the initial Fire Strategy):

• Complex Detailing: When specific construction details are critical for fire resistance, e.g., how fire-rated walls connect to roofs, floors, or other structures, or how services (pipes, cables, ducts) penetrate fire-rated elements.
• Non-Standard Solutions: If your design deviates from standard prescriptive guidance (e.g., building regulations ‘Approved Document B’ in England) and requires a justified, performance-based fire engineering approach. This could involve complex smoke control systems, extended travel distances, or unusual building geometries.
• Material Specification: To specify the exact fire performance characteristics, installation methods, and verification processes for particular fire-rated materials or products.

Addressing Specific Issues or Challenges During Construction:

• Site-Specific Adaptations: When unforeseen site conditions or practical construction constraints require modifications to the original fire safety design, and these changes need to be technically justified and documented.
• Clarification of Scope: To provide contractors with unambiguous instructions for installing fire safety systems or components, preventing misinterpretation or incorrect installation.
• Value Engineering Proposals: If a contractor proposes an alternative material or method that affects fire safety, a technical note would be needed to assess and document its equivalent performance.

After Building Completion (especially for existing buildings or defects):

• Following a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA): If an FRA identifies specific fire safety deficiencies (e.g., inadequate fire stopping, non-compliant fire doors), a Fire Technical Note would detail the precise remedial works required to address these issues.
• Remedial Works: For identified defects in passive or active fire protection systems (like cladding, compartmentation, or alarm systems), a technical note specifies the exact scope, methodology, and materials for correction.
• Alterations or Change of Use: When an existing building undergoes significant refurbishment, extension, or a change in its use, specific technical notes may be required to document how fire safety will be maintained or upgraded in response to these changes.
• Regulatory Compliance: To provide detailed evidence to Building Control, the Fire and Rescue Service, or other regulatory bodies on how a specific fire safety challenge has been met.
• Information for the “Golden Thread”: Under the Building Safety Act 2022, detailed technical information must be maintained for higher-risk buildings. Fire Technical Notes form a crucial part of this “golden thread” of information, providing detailed, reliable data for ongoing safety management.

GTS is part of the Global HSE Group, which encompasses all aspects of fire safety. Qualified and experienced personnel, including façade engineers, fire risk assessors, fire engineers, passive fire experts, and MEP specialists, all work together in the same room to contribute to the completion of a technical note. 

If any remedial actions are required based on a technical note, GTS can provide the work, saving you time and money by handling it all in-house with our specialist team through the wider Global HSE Group. 

Examples of remedial works on a technical note:

Fire door upgrades: A technical note might specify the exact intumescent strips, smoke seals, or replacement hardware needed for existing fire doors that fail inspection, ensuring they meet the required fire rating.