Premier Technical Services Group Ltd (PTSG), via Neo Property Services (Neo), has been contracted to deliver specialist passive fire services at a specialist science and technology facility located in Blackley, Manchester.
The site is a former Imperial Chemical Industries research, development and production centre. The team from Neo will face a number of challenges:
Specialist laboratory environment – The space requires integration of complex mechanical, electrical and laboratory service penetrations (e.g. fume extraction, gas lines, and specialist ductwork) that all have to be fire-stopped to tested detail.
High-value, sensitive facility – As a world-class research building, the works have to be carried out without disrupting ongoing research or compromising environmental controls within adjacent labs.
Stringent compliance standards – Laboratories demand not just standard fire resistance but also careful consideration of chemical resistance, airtightness and compatibility with clean room standards.
Complex structural geometry – The tower’s unique design, combined with the retrofit of modern lab facilities, created challenging access routes and non-standard service penetrations.
Coordination with multiple stakeholders – The client, laboratory designers, M&E contractors, and safety teams all required assurance that the works met both building regulations and sector-specific safety standards.
Neo, as part of PTSG Fire Solutions Ltd, PTSG’s largest business division, is well-versed in collaboration and stakeholder engagement to coordinate with designers, contractors and client safety teams. The result is seamless alignment with broader laboratory requirements.
Passive fire services are a core part of PTSG Fire Solutions Ltd. They include:
- Fire doors
- Fire-rated glazing
- Fire curtains and cavity barriers
- Fire stopping and penetration sealing
- Fire compartmentation
- Fire and smoke damper testing and maintenance
- Ventilation and ductwork cleaning
