Premier Technical Services Group Ltd (PTSG), via Neo Property Services (Neo), has completed a contract to deliver specialist fire solutions at a public collegiate research university in the north of England.
Established in 1963, the university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects. A specialist team from Neo managed a series of fire door replacements at a summer refurbishment programme for accommodation blocks at the university.
Challenges included:
• Tight summer programme – All works had to be completed within a limited summer window while accommodation blocks were unoccupied, requiring meticulous planning and sequencing.
• Coordination with multiple trades – Fire door replacements had to be carried out alongside other refurbishment and compliance works, meaning careful scheduling and communication were essential to avoid clashes.
• Complex building stock – Many of the 1960s CLASP system buildings contained asbestos, high numbers of columns, and wind-bracing elements. This demanded additional surveys, permits, and safe working procedures.
• Large volume of replacements – A high number of doors needed to be installed across multiple blocks in a compressed timeframe, testing supply chain resilience and labour resources.
• Compliance and consistency – Every installation needed to meet exact manufacturer instructions and third-party certification standards, with no margin for error given the scale and visibility of the project.
Skills required to deliver the specialist fire solutions:
• Programme management expertise to phase works tightly within the summer shutdown and ensure handover before students returned.
• Technical installation competence through FIRAS/BM Trada-certified teams to guarantee compliant fire door installations across diverse building types.
• Asbestos awareness and safety management to plan works in CLASP system buildings, integrating licensed contractors and following strict control procedures.
• Collaboration skills to coordinate effectively with other contractors working in the same spaces, minimising disruption and delays.
• Logistical planning to secure materials, manage deliveries and allocate labour efficiently across multiple concurrent work fronts.
• Quality assurance and digital reporting to provide clear evidence of every door installed, ensuring a reliable compliance record for the university’s estates and fire safety teams.
