Fire During Bespoke Office Construction

February 5, 2026

Project completed 8 months ahead of the original programme with £2 million saved on contents alone

A bespoke office development suffered a significant fire just one month before completion. The fire originated within the underfloor services void, causing widespread contamination throughout the building. Given the materials involved and the project’s critical timeline, rapid, specialist intervention was essential.

DF&A were appointed to independently assess the damage, ensure site safety, and manage the complex requirements of multiple stakeholders, enabling the project to continue with minimal delay.

The Challenge:

At the time of the incident, the end client was one month away from the project being completed so this had the potential to cause catastrophic delays to the project. The fire caused extensive contamination; through surface and air testing we found hazardous levels of chlorides and off-gassing of fire derived-VOC’s  due to the combustion of PVC cabling and treated timber.

DF&A were tasked with:

• Independently assessing the cause, extent, and severity of damage
• Undertaking air quality and surface contamination testing to establish site safety
• Managing the competing requirements of the main contractor, insurer, and end client
• Rapidly facilitating the continuation of works to minimise programme impact
• Developing a scope of works for highly specialised remediation in a hazardous environment

Our Approach:

DF&A assessed the project, established a prioritised scope of works and provided clarity for all parties:

• Conducted full contamination profiling of air and surfaces across the building
• Recommended appropriate PPE and health & safety controls to enable safe re-entry and reassure the main contractor
• Prepared a detailed remediation scope of works, including RAMS and PQQ validation for specialist hazardous materials contractors
• Encapsulated the primary damage zone to prevent cross-contamination
• Coordinated M&E and data specialists ahead of decontamination to allow immediate reinstatement
• Installed a continuous air monitoring system to demonstrate remediation progress and reassure both contractor and end client

The Results:

Through our project management and practical, technical and scientific led approach, we were able to achieve fantastic results for the client, reducing the claims lifecycle and providing validation testing upon completion of the claim.

• Completion was achieved 8 months ahead of the original timeline set by contractors
• The cause of the fire was identified and all affected units were replaced preventing potential further issues
• Final air and surface clearance testing confirmed the building was safe for occupation
• Scientific analysis demonstrated that furniture and contents could be safely restored, delivering a £2 million saving on contents alone
• Damage Scene Recording services ensured all stakeholders remained fully informed, supporting swift decision-making and progress

With the appointment of DF&A we swiftly moved the claim forward, minimising delays and allowing the end-client to occupy the building with the confidence that it had been effectively remediated and the root cause fully addressed.

If you would like to learn more about how we can help with complex and major claims resolution, please talk to us on 0800 8766626 or email us at info@davisfrench.co.uk