From regulated qualifications to real-time verification, Andrew Cooper, Managing Director of Global HSE Group outlines their model for joined-up safety in modern high-risk buildings
The complexity of modern construction brings with it the need for better coordination across design, engineering and compliance.
In such a vital sector, fire safety is often treated as a separate task, addressed after other systems are already in place.
This can create delays, gaps in accountability and mismatched standards.
Some businesses are changing this by placing technical specialists’ side by side from the start, Global HSE Group is one of them.
Formed in the early 2000s, the business brings multiple strands of fire and building safety under one structure — including passive fire protection, fire engineering, consultancy, training and manufacturing.
A key part of this model is the Global Technical Services (GTS) division, which handles fire engineering, façade remediation and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) and HVAC input.
GTS supports work across high-risk residential buildings, healthcare sites, hotels and more — with the aim of reducing repetition and ensuring different teams are working with the same information.
IFSJ Editor Iain Hoey spoke to Global HSE Group’s Managing Director Andrew Cooper to discuss how GTS fits within the wider business, how the different teams work together and what this approach looks like on live projects.
Can you introduce Global HSE Group, the GTS division and explain how GTS fits within the wider business?
Global HSE Group started in 2006, though its roots go back to 2002.
We are associated with Global Fire Systems, a privately owned active fire systems firm in Nottingham and London.
After the Regulatory Reform Order in 2005, demand for fire risk assessments grew.
My safety background goes back to the early 90s and as rules changed, we took a hands-on approach to fire safety.
Today, the organisation has five service divisions that sit under the Global HSE Group.
Global Passive Fire focuses on the remediation of passive fire protection in live occupied properties.
Global Technical Services (GTS), is our consultancy for fire engineering, façade remediation and MEP and HVAC input.
We also have Global Build Environments for mechanical and electrical design, Global Academy delivering formal qualifications and Ceasefire, which manufactures third-party certified fire door sets under the BM Trada 170 scheme.
Global Technical Services covers high-risk residential, hotels, healthcare and more.
It gained significance after incidents such as Grenfell, prompting us to integrate disciplines early.
Our goal is to avoid silo thinking and meet the Building Safety Regulator’s requirements through an innovative combined, practical approach.
What kinds of services does the GTS division offer and who typically uses them?
We cover fire strategies for projects from RIBA Stage 0 to 7 through to final handover, as well as remediation to existing buildings.
This reflects ongoing needs in the UK, where fire safety requirements apply to both new and existing sites.
Our work often includes carrying out PAS 9980 assessments and FRAEWs, along with EWS1 forms for external walls.
We recently became a Homes England-approved supplier under the Cladding Safety Scheme.
We help clients with Building Safety Regulator applications, especially Gateways 2 and 3.
That process may become even busier if higher-risk buildings are redefined to include sites with vulnerable occupants.
We also design and specify external façade replacement to meet regulations and calculate MEP adjustments that may be necessary once external issues are addressed.
This joined-up method is a key differentiator for Global.
Our remit extends to existing properties under the Defective Premises Act, where we investigate legacy construction details.
We also deploy Fire Scrutineering, a procedure that validates the developers intent at each design and construction stage.
Our clients include leading contractors, housing associations, PBSA providers, healthcare, and public authorities who need a seamless and joined up approach to compliance.
How does having in-house fire, façade and MEP engineers improve teamwork and complex project delivery?
Having fire, façade and MEP skills in one place speeds up decisions and keeps everyone on the same page.
For example, a façade upgrade might affect compartmentation or require new insulation in the building’s fabric, and our organisational structure allows project teams to quickly collaborate, and provide solutions to complex issues that are quickly reviewed by experts, and presented to the client..
That direct contact means fewer delays and clearer project plans.
We also integrate digital methods, including Near Field Communications (NFC), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling and Building Information Modelling (BIM), in response to rising expectations from the Building Safety Regulator.
Having fire, façade and MEP skills in one place speeds up decisions and keeps everyone on the same page.
Andrew Cooper
A traditional paper-based fire strategy is less effective now.
We need modelling capabilities to demonstrate performance, especially for Gateway 2 applications.
Our team includes experienced individuals who can handle these complex analyses, so we give clients realistic timelines and data-driven solutions.
What is the Global Academy and what gap in the industry are you trying to address with it?
The Global Academy was formed when we recognised many people on-site, such as joiners, passive fire installers or damper technicians, lacked skills, knowledge and formal qualifications.
Short courses often failed to give them official credentials or appropriate training.
To fix that, we partnered with ABBE to write and create regulated qualifications.
We now offer five structured programmes covering fire doors, fire dampers and passive protection, each involving dedicated hours of study and then assessment in the purpose-built academy facilities to validate each delegates skills and understanding of the particular discipline.
There are another four qualifications in the pipeline that are currently being written, so the portfolio will continue to grow.
We then looked at the gap between design and construction, particularly for project managers and procurement teams amongst developers.
Many lacked detailed understanding of technical fire design, and this miss understanding of design intention caused compliance issues when installed during construction..
We responded by developing a new qualification in fire safety design, pitched at Level 3 or 4, and aimed at professionals handling procurement or design responsibilities.
We are rolling this out internationally, with a launch at the IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference in Dubai.
Our overall goal is greater competence across the entire construction and fire industry, from concept right through to final installation on-site, and occupational handover.
We also want to drive innovation in the UK construction industry, by bringing home lessons learnt internationally.
How are you applying your services and qualifications internationally, particularly in the Middle East?
We have delivered projects across Europe, Middle East and the US, often for major hotel and hospitality clients who follow specific brand standards.
Although we are not stationed abroad full-time, we have observed that lessons from UK post-Grenfell regulations can apply worldwide, especially in dense urban settings.
Next month, we will introduce an international version of our regulated fire safety design course at the IFSJ Leaders in Fire & Safety Conference.
This qualification is grounded in UK principles, adapted for global requirements.
Many locations now refer to British, US or European codes, so a structured approach to fire safety design holds growing appeal.
We find that clients elsewhere face similar façade hazards and rely on digital workflows.
Our team’s CFD and BIM capabilities help achieve reliable, trackable results.
We work with local authorities and adapt to regional codes, while maintaining the same thorough standards we provide in the UK.
Looking ahead, how do you see GTS developing to meet the changing needs of the industry?
We are expanding our training programmes through the Global Academy, creating courses for more specialised fields like structural engineering and architectural design.
By equipping each trade with fire safety skills, we aim to bridge the gap that often appears when teams try to coordinate details on-site.
These courses will offer recognised and approved qualifications rather than short, informal sessions.
We are expanding our training programmes through the Global Academy, creating courses for more specialised fields like structural engineering and architectural design.
Andrew Cooper
Fire Scrutineer remains an ongoing project, and we plan to link it with broader asset management tools.
We are also aligning Global Technical Services with Global Building Environments, merging fire engineering, sustainability and building assessments in a more unified way.
This will help clients manage records for safety cases, Gateway submissions and occupant communication over a building’s lifetime.
There is a clear shift toward digital platforms that allow stakeholders to visualise hazards and compliance in real time.
We have invested in LiDAR and BIM skills to create fluid records, so owners and international investors can see issues without physically visiting the site.
Our motto is to ‘Do It Right’ at each stage, rather than address shortcomings later.
This article was originally published in the May 2025 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal – to read your FREE digital copy, click here.