If you’re a main contractor or M&E contractor, you already know how easily fire and security packages can derail a programme.
Late design changes. Re-work. Failed commissioning. Endless RFIs. Variations nobody budgeted for.

Most problems don’t appear at the end – they’re baked in right at the start.

Here are the seven most common mistakes we see on construction projects, and how to avoid them.

1. Leaving fire & security design until after other trades are locked in

When fire alarms, CCTV, access control or emergency lighting are treated as “later packages,” it creates instant friction.

By the time we’re pulled in, containment is fitted, ceilings are closed, cable routes are full, and suddenly simple device locations become complex (and costly).

Why it matters:

• Re-routes and re-work
• Penetrations needing reopened
• Additional labour at the worst possible time

The fix:
Involve fire & security specialists before containment and ceiling coordination. It saves weeks, not days, on the programme.

2. Using vague or copy-and-paste specifications

We see this all the time: a spec lifted from an old project that doesn’t match the new building’s layout, risk profile or current standards such as BS 5839-1 (fire detection and alarm systems) or BS 5266-1 (emergency lighting).

The result?
Queries, redesign, variations, and disagreements over what’s “included.”

The fix:
Get a quick, early review of your spec to identify gaps before tender packages go out. A 20-minute check can prevent thousands in variations later.

3. No single point of responsibility

Alarms by one company. CCTV by another. Access control by someone else. Emergency lighting by the electrical contractor.

On paper? Fine.
On site? Chaos.

Multiple providers =

• Mixed drawings
• Conflicting cable requirements
• Different commissioning dates
• Arguments over who’s responsible for integration

The fix:
Use one integrated provider. One design. One programme. One set of drawings. One accountable contact.

4. Not thinking about future maintenance at install stage

A system can meet spec and still be unmaintainable.

Common problems:

• Detectors installed over stair voids
• Panels placed in impossible-to-access cupboards
• No isolation points
• Zoning layouts that make no operational sense

These issues turn simple maintenance jobs into high-risk, high-cost tasks — and leave end users frustrated.

The fix:
Design with future access in mind, not just compliance.

5. Ignoring security during construction

Construction sites are magnets for theft, vandalism, arson attempts and unauthorised access.

Yet temporary security is often an afterthought.

The risks:

• Stolen power tools and plant
• Damaged materials
• Insurance claims
• Project delays and increased costs

The fix:
Deploy temporary CCTV, remote monitoring and intruder systems early. They cost far less than one incident of theft.

6. Poor handover & documentation

Even when the installation is perfect, handover can fall apart because of missing or unclear documentation.

We regularly see:

• Incomplete as-fitted drawings
• Out-of-date O&M manuals
• No cause-and-effect matrix
• Little to no user training

Poor documentation leads to poor operation — and additional callouts.

The fix:
Agree a clear handover plan at the start, not the end.

7. Not involving the end user or FM early

The end user can make or break a project.

If the system is confusing, over-sensitive, under-responsive or inconvenient, it gets bypassed, misused or ignored.

And when that happens?
The contractor gets the call-back.

The fix:
Bring the FM or responsible person into the design stage. One early meeting can prevent months of issues.

How SR Fire & Security Prevent These Problems

Contractors who work with us get fewer surprises, cleaner installs and faster handovers because we build prevention into the process.

Here’s how we de-risk your project:

✓ Pre-start design review

We review your drawings, specs and layouts before other trades clash with your fire & security requirements.

✓ One point of contact

Fire alarms, CCTV, access control, emergency lighting — all designed, installed and commissioned by one integrated team.

✓ Clear commissioning & handover plan

We map out testing, witness sessions, documentation and training from day one.

The result?
A smoother programme, fewer variations, and a system the end user is happy with.

Planning a project for Q1/Q2?

Send us your draft fire & security spec and we’ll give carry out a free site check. Get in touch today.