London Trams – Fire Compartmentation Upgrade
Status
Completed
Project Type
Public Sector
Project Duration
2026
Project Value
£1.25m
Project description
Project Description
Delatim was appointed by Transport for London (TfL) to undertake a £1.25 million fire compartmentation upgrade at Therapia Lane Tram Depot in Croydon, acting as both Principal Designer and Principal Contractor.
The project involved the design and installation of comprehensive passive fire protection measures throughout the depot to enhance fire safety, improve compartmentation and support compliance with TfL’s developing fire safety strategy.
Originally constructed in 1998/99, Therapia Lane Depot is a critical operational facility supporting the London Trams network. The building accommodates tram maintenance, repairs, stabling facilities for up to 35 tram sets, a double-track maintenance workshop, the network’s control room and facilities used by the British Transport Police.
Working closely with TfL’s Fire Engineers, Delatim developed and delivered a coordinated programme of fire compartmentation improvements across the operational building. The works were carefully phased to maintain depot operations, with the majority undertaken during night shifts within areas that remained in operational use.
Delatim utilised its specialist in-house workforce to deliver the majority of the works under its FIRAS and BAFE accreditations, providing an integrated solution covering design, passive fire protection, building alterations and associated mechanical and electrical works.
Scope of Works
- The project included the design and installation of a comprehensive range of fire compartmentation and associated building safety improvements, including:
- Fire stopping and penetration sealing to existing building services.
- Installation of fire-rated drylined partitions, including GypWall and ShaftWall systems.
- Installation of fire-rated steel-faced partitions using Kemwell Impact Board.
- Installation of fire-rated boarding and associated passive fire protection.
- Installation of new steel fire doors.
- Installation of new timber fire doors.
- Installation of fire-rated ductwork.
- Installation of fire-rated glazing and windows.
- Alterations to the existing fire detection system.
- Installation of fire dampers.
- Installation of a new emergency escape door.
- Associated external cladding alterations.
- Mechanical and electrical enabling works.
- Surveys, detailed design and coordination with TFL Fire Engineers.
- Phased installation within operational depot facilities.
Key Details
- Location: Therapia Lane Tram Depot, Croydon, London
- Category: Public Sector
- Type of work: Construction, Passive Fire Protection, Fire Compartmentation, Building Services, Fire Safety Systems, Mechanical & Electrical Works, Design & Build Building Refurbishment
- Client: TFL
What we did
Integrated design and delivery
Delivered a £1.25 million fire compartmentation upgrade at a live TfL tram maintenance depot as both Principal Designer and Principal Contractor. We worked with TfL Fire Engineers to develop compliant solutions aligned with the client’s evolving fire strategy, using a phased programme that let installation start while surveys and detailed design continued.
Comprehensive fire protection works
Installed fire-rated partitions, boarding, doors, glazing, ductwork, dampers and new escape provisions. We also altered existing fire detection systems and sealed penetrations across extensive mechanical, electrical and communications services. This required managing complex interfaces with the late-1990s building’s existing services.
Accredited delivery in a live environment
Carried out most works on night shifts within occupied areas supporting essential tram maintenance and control functions. Delatim’s directly employed specialist workforce did the work under our FIRAS and BAFE accreditations, combining passive fire protection, construction and M&E expertise. The project supported TfL’s wider programme to improve fire safety across its railway infrastructure.
