Fire engineering

Expert fire engineering advice and performance based design to deliver compliant, practical and cost-effective fire safety solutions.

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Consultancy

Inspections and testing

Fire protection services

Passive and active fire protection solutions that safeguard people, property and buildings throughout their lifecycle.

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Passive fire protection

Active fire protection and security

Sectors

Our sector expertise enables us to deliver tailored fire safety solutions that address the unique challenges of every building and the people who use it.

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Healthcare

Ensuring staff and patient safety across complex healthcare settings

Student accommodation

Protecting residents and ensuring compliance with minimal disruption

About us

Driven by quality, expertise and innovation, we provide integrated fire safety solutions that help organisations build safer, more resilient environments.

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Accreditations

Third-party accredited for complete peace of mind.

Meet the team

Meet the specialists protecting what matters most.

News and insights

Explore everything Checkmate Fire has to offer, from our services and resources to frameworks, training, case studies and the latest insights.

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Training academy

Build skills and confidence through expert-led fire safety training.

Frameworks

Access trusted procurement routes for compliant fire safety solutions.

Healthcare

Fire safety in healthcare has to be dictated by the people, buildings, and clinical activity within it – and not the other way round. From NHS hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, and care homes to assisted living, non-acute care, and private healthcare, we bring more than 35 years of sector experience to environments where patient care simply cannot pause, and fire safety must work around the clock to meet the realities of everyday life happening there.

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Fire safety in Healthcare

Fire safety that protects people – without disrupting the care around them.

Fire protection in hospitals, and every clinical or care setting, has to consider a complex mix of fire risks, vulnerable occupants, and operational pressures. This unique and critical environment requires fire protection that meets rigorous standards, while fitting around the needs of patients, staff, and clinical teams alike.

Our experienced specialists deliver passive and active fire protection across NHS trusts, hospitals, care homes, non-acute care facilities, assisted living, and private healthcare facilities. From fire risk assessments (FRAs), fire doors, and firestopping in healthcare buildings to compartmentation, fire dampers, and planned maintenance, we provide coordinated services tailored to the premises and its day-to-day requirements – which is something our teams understand firsthand. We work closely with estates and facilities teams, as well as ward nurses and other on-the-ground staff, to plan works effectively, minimise disruption, and leave behind a safe and compliant setting that can continue to deliver the care people rely on.

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WORKING AROUND CARE

Working in live healthcare environments

Whether it is an operating theatre that may be required at a moment’s notice, a pressured A&E department with long waiting times, a family room supporting relatives waiting on news, or a busy ward caring for patients every minute of the day and night, healthcare environments cannot pause for fire safety works. So, our teams understand the need to work safely, discreetly, and efficiently around clinical priorities – and to the very highest of standards.

Patient care comes first

We plan all fire safety works around the needs of patients and clinical teams, taking into account aspects like ward activity, theatre schedules, and any priorities of the day. And given that circumstances can often change, we are quick to adapt with them, ensuring essential healthcare services keep moving and remain on track while the work is completed safely.

Safe working in occupied settings

Fire safety in healthcare premises relies on careful planning and controlled working. Our teams understand the need to work sensitively around patients, visitors, and staff, with appropriate measures in place to manage noise, dust, access, and disruption. We maintain a safe working environment without losing sight of the people using it.

Collaboration with your teams

We pride ourselves on our clear communication at every stage of the works – keeping you informed of plans and progress is our priority. We work alongside estates and facilities teams, ward staff, and other on-site personnel to understand what is happening in the building and plan accordingly. For us, this means clearer coordination, no surprises, and fire safety works that fit around the realities of a healthcare environment and, importantly, do not add to the pressures of an already busy setting.

PROTECTING VULNERABLE RESIDENTS

Care homes and assisted living

Protecting residents requires far more than a compliant fire protection system. Good fire safety in care homes begins with understanding the people who live there – their mobility, vulnerabilities, and individual evacuation needs.

A suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment in care homes should reflect all these individual needs, and inform personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs), evacuation procedures, and fire drills designed to upskill staff response in the event of a fire.

Our services include fire risk assessment and fire strategy, as well as fire door replacement and remediation, firestopping, cavity barrier installation, and compartmentation improvements, helping care providers maintain effective fire protection and meet their ongoing responsibilities.

The thinking behind effective fire strategies

What we do? It is all about saving lives

Hear directly from our fire engineers and building fire strategy specialists, as they share expert insight on navigating evolving regulations, managing risk, and designing buildings that perform as intended.

Customer stories

Managing fire safety across a complex healthcare estate

With more than 290 NHSPS buildings and 20,000 fire doors to manage, discover how Checkmate Fire delivered extensive fire safety inspections, remediation, and replacement programmes across a diverse healthcare estate.

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Across 290 buildings managed by NHS Property Services, we adapted our approach to deliver essential inspections and remedial works around patients, staff, tenants.

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TAILORED TO THE ENVIRONMENT

A hospital is never thought of in terms of one building. It is layers upon layers of construction, countless services, and many people and activities that all must work safely together.

We provide fire protection works to more than 100 hospitals every year, giving our teams deep knowledge of the practical challenges involved in working safely within demanding, occupied environments where patient safety must always come first. Meanwhile, the buildings are often a mix of old and new, with extensions, refurbishments, and changes of use – which all add layers of complexity. This detailed understanding of how the building has evolved is essential to delivering the right solution.

Our healthcare projects are supported by robust health, safety, and safeguarding procedures, including:

DBS-checked personnel
Healthcare-specific risk assessment and method statements (RAMS)
Site-specific toolbox talks
Safeguarding procedures
Robust health and safety management
Comprehensive quality assurance
Third-party certified installation standards

Industry recognised standards

Independently accredited. Fully compliant. Trusted nationwide.

We are proud that Checkmate Fire is built on a foundation of continuous improvement – it is a philosophy that is deeply embedded and felt throughout the business. Our third-party accreditations demonstrate more than compliance – they provide independent assurance that our people, processes, and workmanship meet recognised industry standards.

We hold a comprehensive portfolio of industry accreditations covering fire door installation, inspections, surveys, and remediation. They underpin every project we deliver and reflect our commitment to raising standards across the built environment.

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FIRE SAFETY IN PRACTICE

Fire safety in healthcare buildings

In hospitals, care homes, and other clinical environments, a full evacuation in the event of a fire can be impractical. These are old, complex buildings home to vulnerable patients, many of whom are non-ambulatory, and the requirement for uninterrupted care is paramount. For these reasons, many healthcare settings rely on progressive horizontal evacuation, moving patients, staff, and visitors into an adjoining fire-resistant compartment while the immediate risk is contained and managed. But, for this approach to work, the building’s passive and active fire protection measures must perform as intended. Health Technical Memorandum 05-02 provides specific guidance for fire safety in the design of healthcare premises, with compartmentation, fire doors, and firestopping playing this crucial role in containing fire and smoke.

At Checkmate Fire, we understand these measures cannot be considered in isolation. We help healthcare providers maintain the integrity of their fire protection systems, so buildings remain safe, compliant, and capable of supporting patient care when it matters most.

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Whether you’re looking for a service, sector, resource, or technical guidance, quickly find the expertise and support you need to move forward with confidence.

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Case Studies

Delivering a seamless fire alarm system replacement in a bustling hotel environment

In such an expansive hotel, a phased, loop-by-loop replacement strategy allowed our specialists to maintain continuous fire protection, working around guest occupancy and returning each area to a full

News

Checkmate achieves CHAS elite accreditation

We’re pleased to share that Checkmate Fire Solutions has achieved CHAS elite accreditation and completed Building Safety Act (BSA) verification through Constructionline.

Fire Protection Services

Fire dampers

Inspection, testing, remediation, and maintenance to build confidence in the hidden systems that prevent fire and smoke travelling through ventilation networks.

Complete fire safety assurance

We deliver all fire safety services in line with current legislation, guidance, and third-party accreditation standards.

Technical expertise and practical delivery

Combining specialist fire safety knowledge with practical experience, we bridge the gap between strategy and reality to deliver greater certainty, informed investment decisions, and confidence in managing assets.

Nationwide coverage

Our UK-wide network provides consistent expertise wherever your buildings are located, supporting sprawling estates and multi-site portfolios.

An end-to-end service

Bringing together specialist consultancy, inspections, remediation, and installation, we provide a complete view of fire safety – from initial assessment through to long-term assurance and evidence.

How can we help?

Talk to our healthcare fire safety specialists

Whether you are planning a hospital refurbishment, managing a care home portfolio, or looking to improve compliance across a healthcare estate, our specialists know this environment inside out and draw on decades of experience to deliver the right fire safety solutions for your building, its people, and the way it operates.