BIM for Fire Safety
Bimacme builds fire safety BIM models that reflect these requirements from the first design iteration — not as a downstream check after the mechanical and electrical trades have already claimed the ceiling space.
What's Included
Full Scope of Our BIM for Fire Safety Service
We cover the complete range of deliverables your project requires — modeled, coordinated, and documented to the standard your site team can actually build from.
Sprinkler Systems
- Wet/dry/pre-action systems per BS EN 12845
- Head layouts with hydraulic zone boundaries
- Pipe sizing from design calculations
- Coverage zone validation in 3D model
Fire Detection & Alarm
- Detector & sounder layouts per BS 5839-1
- Control panel positions
- Cable route coordination
- Detection category compliance
Hydrants & Hose Reels
- Rising mains & landing valves
- Hose reel cabinet positions
- Coverage radii confirmed in model
- Inlet breeching coordination
Fire Dampers & Smoke Control
- Damper at every rated penetration
- Smoke control ductwork & actuators
- Structural opening coordination
- Fire damper schedule production
Passive Fire Protection
- Intumescent collars at penetrations
- Compartmentation boundary modeling
- Fireproofing design coordination
- AHJ submission support packages
Emergency & Suppression
- Gaseous suppression — FM200, Novec, CO2
- Emergency signage & evacuation routes
- Approved Document B compliance
- Exit width confirmation in 3D model
Our Step-by-Step Workflow
A structured, repeatable process that gives every project a clear path from model intake to signed construction release
Compartmentation Model Setup
We establish fire compartment boundaries in the federated model based on the fire strategy document. These boundaries become active coordination constraints for all disciplines.
Sprinkler System Modeling
Head layouts are developed from hydraulic zone calculations and building geometry. Coverage zones are checked against ceiling obstructions before the layout is submitted for approval.
Detection & Alarm Layout
Detector and sounder positions are confirmed against room geometries, ceiling obstructions, and the detection category requirements of BS 5839-1.
Ductwork Penetration Coordination
All ductwork runs are checked against fire compartment boundaries. Damper positions are confirmed and modeled, with structural penetration sizes captured for the sleeves schedule.
Clash Detection & Resolution
The fire safety model is combined with the full federated MEP model in Navisworks. Clashes between sprinkler pipework, structural elements, and other services are identified and resolved.
Code Compliance Check
The coordinated model is reviewed against Approved Document B, BS 9999, and the project fire strategy to confirm that layouts, clearances, and compartmentation remain compliant after coordination.
Drawing Production & AHJ Support
Coordinated fire safety drawings are produced in the formats required for building control submission, including model exports structured for AHJ review where required.
What You Receive at Project Completion
- Coordinated fire safety Revit model at agreed LOD
- Sprinkler layout drawings with hydraulic zone boundaries and head coverage zones
- Fire detection and alarm layout drawings with detector and sounder positions
- Fire damper schedule with location, size, and fire rating for each damper
- Compartmentation penetration schedule for passive fire protection works
- Clash resolution log for fire safety coordination rounds
- AHJ submission drawing package where required
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work to both UK and international fire safety standards?
Yes. Our default standard for UK projects is BS EN 12845 for sprinklers, BS 5839 for detection and alarm, and Approved Document B / BS 9999 for compartmentation and means of escape. For international projects — including the Middle East and Ireland, where we also deliver work — we apply NFPA 13, NFPA 72, and local authority standards as specified in the project BEP.
Can you model fire compartmentation boundaries in the federated model?
Yes — and we consider this a prerequisite for meaningful fire safety coordination, not an optional addition. Compartmentation boundaries from the fire strategy are modeled as reference planes in the federated Navisworks model. Every duct penetration, pipework penetration, and cable route through a compartment wall is flagged and assigned a passive fire protection requirement. The resulting penetration schedule is issued alongside the coordination drawings.
How do you handle sprinkler head coverage validation in BIM?
Sprinkler head coverage is checked geometrically in the 3D model. We set coverage zone parameters per the applicable standard and check each head against ceiling obstructions including luminaires, HVAC diffusers, beams, and partitions. Where obstructions compromise coverage, we reposition heads or add additional heads and recheck before issuing the coordinated layout for approval.
Can you support building control submissions with BIM outputs?
Yes. We produce fire safety coordination drawings in PDF and DWG formats suitable for building control submission. Where the project uses a BIM-enabled approval process, we can provide IFC exports and model views structured to support the submission. We can also produce compartmentation plans showing all penetrations and passive fire protection measures for AHJ review.
Do you coordinate fire safety systems with the structural model for slab and wall penetrations?
Yes. Penetrations through fire-rated construction — slabs, compartment walls, and protected shafts — are coordinated in the structural model. Penetration sizes and positions for sprinkler pipework, rising mains, detection cabling, and smoke control ductwork are captured in a coordinated sleeves schedule and issued to the structural team for casting or coring confirmation.