High-end safety for high-end retail. JRA Safety’s fire strategy for Larry King Marylebone ensures luxury and compliance coexist.
Market Square, Wolverhampton
Market Square, Wolverhampton
JRA Fire Safety Advisors were appointed by Bartley Management to undertake a comprehensive fire risk assessment of Market Square, Wolverhampton, a substantial and complex mixed-use residential development comprising multiple residential blocks above commercial and car parking areas, including a central high-rise core extending to over 20 metres in height. The commission formed part of the client’s ongoing fire safety management strategy for this large and technically challenging residential scheme.
Market Square is a significant multi-block residential development operating with a stay put evacuation strategy, incorporating five separate stair cores, smoke ventilation systems, dry riser provisions, sprinkler protection to upper levels, firefighting access arrangements, and extensive passive fire protection requirements. Due to the building’s scale, mixed-use nature, height variations, and historic construction complexities, the project required a detailed and pragmatic fire risk assessment approach to consider both existing conditions and legacy design provisions.
JRA undertook a full fire risk assessment of the communal areas and fire safety arrangements throughout the development, including review of means of escape, smoke control systems, firefighting facilities, emergency lighting, fire alarm arrangements, fire door provisions, and passive fire compartmentation standards. Particular focus was given to the adequacy of compartmentation measures supporting the building’s stay put strategy, with detailed consideration of known historic compartmentation concerns and ongoing remediation discussions with the original developer.
The assessment identified a range of significant findings including deficiencies in communal fire doors, unresolved compartmentation breaches, arson and security concerns, signage and wayfinding improvements, smoke ventilation management issues, and fire alarm system amendments required to better align the building with its intended evacuation strategy. Strategic recommendations were provided to support the Responsible Person in prioritising remedial works, managing interim risk, and progressing longer-term fire safety improvements.
This project demonstrates JRA Fire Safety Advisors’ expertise in delivering technically robust fire risk assessments for large, complex, and legacy higher-risk residential developments, providing pragmatic fire engineering-based advice to support compliance, resident safety, and strategic remediation planning across challenging multi-occupied residential premises.




















