A new concept for high rise safety; creating safer and sustainable buildings with 81% net:gross

1
Expert Industry News

A new concept for high rise safety; creating safer and sustainable buildings with 81% net:gross

The construction industry has a responsibility to make high rise buildings safer and more sustainable... Matt Brook Architects made a proactive move to address this with the design of a core that was safer for residents and firefighters as well as being highly efficient. Working collaboratively with OFR, the core has been developed and validated through testing. Read more about the process here.

1
Expert News Recruitment

Investing in future talent through our OFR Technical Institute

The OFR Technical Institute was introduced in 2020 – giving colleagues high quality, in-house training that helps them deliver great work for our clients. Here, our Technical Director, Dr. Danny Hopkin tells us more.

1
News

Mind matters; today and every day

Our Mind Matters team is made up of mental health first aid trained individuals who are passionate about supporting their colleagues and raising awareness of issues such as anxiety and depression. With Mental Health Awareness Week underway, we look at how the team has been helping others throughout the year and the topics they have been exploring during the campaign week.

1
Recruitment

The daily juggle

At OFR Consultants we protect and promote our people, investing in them to ensure that they can manage their work and home lives effectively. This month, we announced a series of new initiatives for our OFR working parents, with increased maternity and shared parental leave pay. Here, we hear from three parents in our workforce who talk about their approach to juggling the family work-life balance.

1
News Recruitment

Protecting our whole selves!

OFR prioritises colleague wellbeing, and we have a range of initiatives driven by our Mind Matters team who share information and deliver engaging sessions throughout the year. This month, our brilliant colleague Sam Bryant helped us celebrated MHFA Whole Self Day, delivering a talk on how we can bring whole selves into the workplace. Here, she tells us about learning how not to leave an aspect of our personality at the door. 

1
Expert News Research

Built by Nature awards €200,000 grant toward development of a Commercial Timber Guidebook

To foster cross-sector industry alignment on solutions to ensure the widespread adoption of large-scale mass timber offices, the Built by Nature Fund has awarded a €200,000 grant to a diverse UK consortium - including OFR Consultants - focused on unlocking the barriers to structural timber through the development of a technical Commercial Timber Guidebook.

1
News Recruitment

Supporting our working parents

Since 2016, we’ve worked hard to establish a flexible and inclusive working culture, working with our colleagues to nurture an environment where productivity is more important than presenteeism. It’s something that’s appealed to the many working parents in our team who this month, have been given even more benefits from OFR. Our head of HR Lucy Kirkup explains. 

1
Expert Industry News

Waste to Energy: how our team is expanding its portfolio with progressive sustainability-focused projects

Having completed works at the Baldovie Waste to Energy plant at Dundee, we are bringing our expertise to a number of other projects in the UK. Here OFR director Jamie Gibson explains more…

1

Project

Weighbridge Road Waste to Energy Plant

OFR Consultants is working on the creation of a new waste to energy plant which will include advanced gasification plant and an anaerobic digestion facility.

1
Expert Industry News

Our work at Smithfield in Birmingham

The 17-hectare Smithfield regeneration scheme in Birmingham is set to transform this historic market site into a people-centred yet sustainable, low-carbon destination. Here, our project director, Stewart Dabin talks about our involvement.

1
Expert Industry News

Fire strategies for prisons; our latest projects further diversify our OFR portfolio

Our OFR portfolio spans multiple sectors and multiple countries. From shopping malls in Africa, to a research centre in Antarctica, to Google’s new HQ in London. Recently we’ve expanded that offering again working with the Ministry of Justice on fire strategies as part of a £1bn project that will upgrade four prisons across England.

1
Awards News

Showing our support for Forever Manchester

We’re big fans of Forever Manchester, donating to the organisation and supporting its events throughout the year. This week, ten of our colleagues showed their love for the charity, attending a birthday party celebration and sponsoring an award, and here our colleague Helen Buckley tells us more.

1
Expert Industry Timber & Sustainability

Our London team supports Silvertown

eam, but also with ongoing work on some of the city’s most talked about developments. Here, principal fire engineer, Matt Stallwood talks about how we have been involved at East London’s pioneering Silvertown development.

1
Expert Industry News

Our work in the arts and culture sector

We've been privileged to be involved in some of the UK’s most ground-breaking projects – but it’s our growth within the arts and cultural sector following previous project successes that has seen our team build on its industry-leading experience. Here, our director Andy Passingham talks about how we are providing the knowledge and skills to ensure that heritage buildings such as galleries and museums can continue to be safe and accessible for the public well into the future.

1
Expert Industry News

Seven interesting projects from seven great years!

Our jobs as fire engineers are always interesting, with a broad portfolio that covers everything from the world’s tallest Octagon-shaped tower to a research station in the Antarctic, to… a new music studio for an 80s pop band. Here we look at some of our most unique OFR projects.

1
Industry News Timber & Sustainability Uncategorized

Helping deliver the UK’s lowest carbon new build workspace 

It’s an exciting time for construction, with innovations that are making the creation of truly sustainable buildings a reality. In Manchester, members of our team are providing fire engineering advice on what is set to be the UK’s lowest carbon new build workspace, Ev0. Our associate director Jamie Gibson explains how we are providing fire engineering support on this pioneering exposed timber development…

1
Expert Industry News

Collaboration is key in spreading the word on fire safety

Following the news of our partnership with the Fire Science Show – a weekly podcast connecting fire researchers and practitioners with fire engineers – we’ve invited the podcast’s founder Wojciech Wegryznski to tell us more about his mission.

1
Expert Industry News

Our newest partner – the Fire Science Show! 

We are always looking for ways to amplify our work, share best practice and engage with more great engineers in our sector to pioneer new ways to protect people, place and planet. Today we have announced a new partnership with the Fire Science Show – a weekly podcast connecting fire researchers and practitioners with fire engineers. Here, our colleague Daniel Codd tells us more. 

1
Expert Industry News

Simon Lay has been appointed to the Building Advisory Committee

Simon Lay has been appointed to the newly established Building Advisory Committee which has this week hosted its first meeting. The BAC was established under the Building Safety Act 2022 as part of the Government’s reforms of building safety. The reforms are designed to create lasting change and make it clear how residential buildings should be constructed, maintained and made safe.

1
News Timber & Sustainability

From water tanks in Mexico to protecting primates in Vietnam, we’re proud to have supported the WLT this year

This year, as we continued our OFR journey to Net Zero, we set upon our Carbon Balancing journey with the World Land Trust (WLT).  The partnership has helped us balance our carbon...

1
Industry News

Supporting the community through Haringey Giving Week

We are proud of working alongside many other businesses within the industry, that share our values and community-focussed ethos. This November, as part of the wider team delivering Related Argent’s regeneration of Tottenham Hale, we are getting behind Haringey Giving Week – a week-long fundraising campaign. Here, Karen Hugh tells us more about what this involves and who it will benefit…

1
Uncategorized

Barnsley’s historic Civic gets refurbishment go ahead

We’re enjoying being an important part of the team working on an incredible refurbishment project in Barnsley. The restoration of the Barnsley Civic will provide the city with an exciting new leisure, office and retail venue whilst bringing this once important building back into use.

1
Industry News

Setting a fire engineering precedent with significant Midlands development

As a significant development project, the £110m Octagon in Birmingham will put the great Midlands city once again on the global stage. Upon completion, this progressive project will be the tallest octagonal-shaped residential building, not only in the UK but throughout the world. Here our colleague Rich Rankin tells us more about OFR’s role in the project.

1
Industry News Recruitment

OFR welcomes four new colleagues in Scotland

In a period of rapid growth, leading fire engineering consultancy OFR has appointed four new colleagues to its team in Scotland. million-pound projects, offering fire engineering advice to clients.

1
Expert Industry News

Creating buildings that are fit for the future

ur colleague and founding director Sam Liptrott recently signed an open letter to the government, calling for better designed buildings. Here, he tells us more about his hopes for the future of the built environment.

1
Industry News Recruitment

Investing in future talent; OFR welcomes eight new colleagues in September – taking staff headcount to 115

In a period of rapid growth, leading fire engineering consultancy OFR has appointed eight new colleagues to its UK wide team – seven of whom are graduate fire engineers.

1
Expert Industry News

Building Magazine lists OFR as one of the UK’s top consultants

OFR Consultants has ranked in Building Magazine’s annual ranking of the top consultants in the UK’s construction sector. The company features in the top 150 practices in the country; the listings also show that OFR is the only specialist fire engineer to appear in the Top 50 Engineers list.

1
Expert Industry News

OFR Designs Fire Strategy for Challenging Cumbrian Citadel Project

Our Manchester team, led by director Richard Rankin is involved in a challenging, transformative project in Carlisle. Known as the Citadel project, it will see a historic area of the city repurposed...

1
Expert Recruitment

Supporting our colleagues on Mental Health Day

Today is World Mental Health Day which this year focuses on making mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority. At OFR, we strive to do this every day, ensuring that our colleagues have access to any support  they need. Here our colleague and mental health first aider Katrina Speirs-Simpson tells us more. 

1
Industry Recruitment

Calling all graduates! Come and meet our team

OFR is made up of great people – brilliantly talented colleagues based across the country who help us deliver exceptional work for clients. There’s 115 of us now, all based out of seven offices – but we’re on the hunt for even more talent to join the team! This autumn, we’re heading out to graduate fairs across the country to meet more budding fire engineers! Here our colleague Helen Buckley tells us more.

1
Industry Recruitment

We are growing our team! 

It's my joy to share the news with you that we are growing our team, looking for enthusiastic new colleagues to join us across the country

1
Industry News

Our journey to Net Zero; OFR partners with the World Land Trust

As we continue our journey to Net Zero, finding new ways in which to reduce our impact on the environment, we are today proud to announce the start of our Carbon Balancing journey with the World Land Trust (WLT).  

1
News

Ruoxi and Mel get the chop for children’s charity

Two members of our OFR team have recently raised a whopping £1,237 for children’s charity, The Little Princess by having their locks chopped. Principal fire engineer, Melanie Harris and senior fire engineer, Ruoxi Shi have smashed their original goal of raising £1,000, thanks to generous donations by OFR colleagues, friends and family.

1
News Recruitment

Helping colleagues enjoy a hybrid working future

Like many other businesses up and down the UK, we have been reviewing our day to day working practices since the pandemic and chatting with all members of our team about hybrid working; in this new blog our colleague Karen Hugh talks about the recent office moves that have empowered our people to work in an even more agile way.

1
News Recruitment

How Sam’s Better Days supports Scottish Girl Guides

Our Better Days allowance enables all of our colleagues to support causes that are important to them within their own communities – by providing an allocated day of paid leave each year. Here, fire engineer Sam Bryant who is based in our Edinburgh office, explains how she has used her Better Days Days’ time to develop her skills and experience within the Girl Guides to help others.

1
Industry News

Our first ever OFR scheme comes to fruition

Back in 2016, Simon Lay and Sam Liptrott founded what is now OFR Consultants. One of the first projects the pair took on was supporting the delivery of a £500m regeneration programme at Tottenham Hale. Now, as the first phase comes to completion, Sam tells us more about the creation of the scheme.

1
Expert Industry

Fusing the old and the new

At OFR we are fortunate to work on a range of projects, covering all sectors, geographies – and architectural typologies. Here, our director Andy Passingham talks about the work we have been doing to support museums, galleries and other historic buildings as they undergo sensitive restorations and redevelopments, with safe design principles in mind… 

1
Awards Industry News

OFR shortlisted for a Structural Timber Award

This year's Structural Timber Awards shortlist has been announced - with OFR nominated in the Pioneer category alongside project partners Stora Enso, binderholz group and KLH UK Limited.

1
Industry News Recruitment

OFR Consultants celebrates with further team growth

Leading fire engineering consultancy OFR has appointed five new colleagues to its UK wide team.

1
Expert Industry News

Topping out an exciting new development for Google at King’s Cross

Google's new King's Cross office officially reached its 'topping out' milestone this week as the final steel beam was put into place.

1
Expert Industry News

The International Women in Engineering Day Series: Meet Maisie

23rd June is International Women in Engineering Day and to celebrate, we’re hearing from the great women in our business, as they talk about their careers in this sector. We’re concluding the series with an interview today with our Graduate Fire Engineer Maisie Gleeson. Here, Bath-based Maisie tells us more about establishing her career, and why she didn’t want to be a doctor or a lawyer!

1
Expert Industry News

The International Women in Engineering Day Series: Meet Sam

23rd June is International Women in Engineering Day and to celebrate, we’re hearing from the great women in our business, as they talk about their careers in this sector. Today, we meet Sam Bryant who was last year crowned as the Women in Fire Safety Rising Star. Edinburgh-based Sam talks about her childhood love of Lego, and how her passion for seeing the end-product helps her today.

1
Expert Industry News

The International Women in Engineering Series: Meet Janine

23rd June is International Women in Engineering Day, and to celebrate, we’re hearing from the great women in our business, as they talk about their careers in this sector.  We’re kicking off the series with Janine Kayode. A London-based principal fire engineer, Janine was a 2021 winner of the Women in Fire Safety Awards, and here she talks about her love for the industry, and the challenges she’s faced on her journey… 

1
Industry News

We’re working on the University of York’s Student Centre Contest

You may have seen in the architecture press this week that our clients O’Donnell + Tuomey and ADP Architecture have won The University of York’s competition for a ‘landmark’ £35 million student centre. Here our colleague Ryan McCreadie tells us more.

1
Expert Industry Research

OFR contributes to evacuation research

Contributing their time to future fire safety and policy, our colleagues Amir and Luis recently volunteered in a high rise evacuation exercise. Here, Luis tells us more.

1
Accreditation Awards News

OFR ranked as one of the UK’s best companies to work for

OFR Consultants has been named in a list of the Best Companies to Work for 2022. The company ranked highly in the lists, earning a place in the top 10 Best Consultancies to work for. OFR was also ranked 41st in the UK-wide overall companies category - making it one of the best businesses to work for in the country.

1
Industry News

Around the world in 80 ways: Nigeria, Africa

We are proud to serve clients all over the world, with projects spanning a range of countries and architectural types. In this new series, our colleagues will take you on a tour of the world, showcasing some of our work – starting here in Nigeria, where our colleague Ryan McCreadie gives us a brief tour.

1
Awards Industry News

We’re proud to work on these award winning schemes

Congratulations to our architect and developer clients who this month have won, and been shortlisted, for RIBA Awards for projects across the UK. The RIBA Awards are some of the most renowned accolades in architecture, and we’re proud to see some OFR projects on the winning lists.

1
News

Supporting the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity

We are proud to be cheering on our colleague Alan Curran - London technical director - who will use his OFR Better Days allowance to embark on a gruelling 210 mile cycle ride from Leitrim to Killarney in just three days! 

1
Expert Industry

Global thinking, local application

Our OFR projects span the whole globe, with projects from the UK to Antarctica, Africa, the Middle East and many places in between. Here, our colleague Rich Rankin explains how we uphold our international knowledge, ensuring that we can meet local regulation, no matter the market we are working in.

1
Expert Industry

Meta checks in at King’s Cross Hub

The end of March saw the Royal opening of global tech giant, Meta’s incredible new space at Kings Cross – a project officially opened by HRH The Prince of Wales and The...

1
Expert Industry

Fire and Smoke Modelling Lecture: giving back to academic community

Members of our team were invited to share their industry knowledge, experience and insight at a lecture at the University of Edinburgh last week. Former student and OFR colleague, Ieuan Rickard along with Andrew...

1
Industry

Helping the Mayor of London and GLA move into their new home

The Mayor of London’s much anticipated move to London’s Royal Docks completed just over a week ago thanks to support from OFR colleagues in London, with a stellar team that comprised Project Director...

1
Expert Industry

Conversations Series 1: Modern Design Methods for External Fire Spread

Welcome to our Conversations Series. As an important part of encouraging our graduates and engineers to undertake internal research and develop concepts for new ideas, they present and discuss their insights and personal observations...

1
Industry

Top marks for our latest project in Oxford

This is the completed Levine Building – a substantial new development set in the heart of Trinity College’s historic site in central Oxford. Working alongside my OFR colleagues in London, I was...

1
Recruitment

Helping our graduates springboard their careers

We’re nothing without our people. Our fast-growing team of engineers are at the top of their game, and it’s my job to help us maintain a brilliant working environment in which everyone...

1

Project

Baldovie Waste to Energy Plant

OFR provided a detailed fire strategy which integrated life safety, business continuity and property protection objectives into a fully co-ordinated approach.

1

Project

Earls Gate Energy Centre

OFR Consultants is supporting client Brockwell Energy on a fire engineering strategy in Grangemouth. Involvement has included both complex engineering analysis to ensure all life safety objectives are achieved, together with onsite support during the construction phase.