Insights
The latest from OFR
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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...
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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).
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.
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.
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.