Clients: Morgan Sindall
Projects:
- Newman Catholic College
- Preston Park Primary School
- St Margaret Clitherow RC Primary School
Service: Fire Safety Consultancy
Project Overview
Salus supported Morgan Sindall across a series of education projects delivering new school buildings for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) provision.
The programme included three schemes:
- Newman Catholic College (two-storey)
- Preston Park Primary School (single-storey)
- St Margaret Clitherow RC Primary School (single-storey)
Each project involved the construction of new teaching spaces using modern methods of construction, specifically structurally insulated panel systems (SIPs).
While relatively small in scale, these buildings required a carefully considered fire strategy due to both the construction method and the needs of the building users.
Salus’ Role
Salus provided fire safety consultancy across all three projects, working closely with Morgan Sindall and the wider design team.
Led by Mike O’Brien, the Salus team:
- Developed fire strategies from RIBA Stage 3 onwards
- Reviewed design information in detail at Stage 4
- Supported implementation through site inspections and construction review
- Ensured all fire safety measures aligned with current legislation and best practice
This involvement continued through to construction, where Salus worked with site teams to ensure fire safety principles were correctly implemented on site.
A Consistent Approach Across Multiple Sites
The projects were delivered as a programme of works, with a consistent design team, construction approach and client structure.
This created an opportunity for Salus to:
- Apply learning from earlier projects to later schemes
- Refine fire strategy approaches as the programme progressed
- Provide consistent guidance across multiple sites
As the programme developed, Salus became increasingly proactive, identifying potential issues earlier and supporting smoother delivery across subsequent projects.
Fire Safety in Modern Methods of Construction
A key technical challenge across all three projects was the use of SIPs construction.
Unlike traditional construction, SIPs systems:
- Form part of the structural integrity of the building
- Require careful consideration when penetrated for services
- Do not always have readily available tested fire safety details
This required detailed review and coordination to ensure:
- All penetrations for services were appropriately fire protected
- The structural performance under fire conditions was maintained
- The overall fire strategy aligned with both design intent and real-world construction
Salus worked with guidance from industry bodies, including the Structural Timber Association, to ensure a robust and compliant approach.
Designing for Real-World Use
Beyond construction, the fire strategy needed to reflect how the buildings would actually be used.
As SEND environments, the schools required:
- Consideration of occupant vulnerability and behaviour
- Appropriate means of escape strategies, including alternative exits
- Increased reliance on management procedures and staff support
Rather than applying a standard approach, Salus tailored fire strategies to reflect:
- The needs of pupils and staff
- The way spaces would be used day-to-day
- The importance of maintaining safe, controlled environments during evacuation
Collaboration and Communication
The success of the projects was supported by strong collaboration across all teams.
Key factors included:
- A proactive design management approach from Morgan Sindall
- Clear and consistent communication across design and site teams
- A shared understanding of the importance of fire safety in the overall delivery
Salus worked as part of the wider team, contributing insight, raising key considerations and supporting the resolution of issues as they arose.
Outcome
All three projects were delivered to a high standard of fire safety compliance, supporting safe environments for both staff and pupils.
The programme demonstrated how a structured and collaborative approach can:
- Manage complexity in modern construction methods
- Support consistency across multiple sites
- Deliver compliant, well-considered buildings in specialist education settings
Why Salus
This project highlights Salus’ ability to combine:
- Technical fire safety expertise
- Practical understanding of construction methods
- A collaborative, team-based approach
Working across multiple sites, Salus provided consistent, reliable support — helping clients navigate complexity and deliver safe, compliant buildings.
