The Colt Data Centre is a mission critical facility supporting high availability digital infrastructure, where uninterrupted operation and asset protection are essential. The nature of data centre environments, with high power densities, critical IT equipment, and strict uptime requirements, demands a highly controlled and resilient approach to fire and life safety.
The project required careful management of fire safety considerations to ensure compliance without introducing risk to live systems. Any works undertaken needed to be coordinated to avoid disruption, protect critical infrastructure, and maintain operational continuity at all times.
Our involvement focused on the provision of project services and fire and life safety consultancy support, ensuring that fire safety requirements were embedded throughout the project delivery process. This included technical oversight, coordination with specialist data centre stakeholders, and alignment with industry best practice and regulatory requirements.
Particular emphasis was placed on managing interfaces between construction activities and live data halls, ensuring risks were identified, controlled, and mitigated through robust planning and coordination.
During the pre construction phase, our team supported the review and coordination of fire safety strategies tailored to the operational requirements of a mission critical environment.
This included assessment of proposed works against existing fire protection arrangements, review of compartmentation and detection strategies, and coordination of temporary and permanent fire safety measures to maintain protection throughout the works.
Design coordination focused on ensuring that fire safety provisions supported resilience, maintainability, and future scalability, while remaining compatible with live operational constraints.
The pre construction phase established a structured and risk aware framework to enable safe and compliant delivery within a zero downtime environment.
In parallel with design coordination activities, a comprehensive suite of pre construction documentation was prepared to support quality assurance, safety management, and controlled delivery.
This included preparation and review of technical documentation outlining scope, responsibilities, and compliance with applicable fire safety requirements and industry guidance.
Risk Assessment Method Statements were developed to address the specific challenges of working within a live data centre environment, including protection of critical equipment, controlled access procedures, and emergency response planning.
Inspection and verification processes were defined to ensure that all works were carried out in accordance with agreed fire safety requirements.
A detailed programme was also developed to coordinate works during approved maintenance windows, ensuring activities were aligned with operational schedules and risk controls.
Through proactive project services support, detailed coordination, and continued technical oversight, the project was delivered in a controlled and compliant manner, supporting the resilience and ongoing operation of a mission critical data centre facility.
Data Centres
London, United Kingdom
Project Services, Fire and Life Safety Consultancy
Applicable UK Fire Safety Legislation and Industry Best Practice
Showcasing 25 Years of Industry Experience
Lil Fire has demonstrated a strong understanding of industry standards and best practices. Their consultancy, & BIM design services have been of a high standard, and their approach to collaboration, technical knowledge, and project delivery has been exemplary.
Lil Fire delivered exceptional work on our internal Autodesk Revit Template, and provide continuous design support on our Data Centre projects. Their designs for the Gas Suppression, Low Pressure Water Mist, and Sprinkler systems were accurate, efficient, & compliant.
The quality and output of work from Lil Fire is phenomenal, and we have absolutely no complaints. Their delivery has been consistently precise, reliable, and far exceeding our expectations. Thank you for this, it is a vast improvement over the output we received from previous subcontractors.
