OFR Consultants

OFR Consultants is a United Kingdom-based independent fire and risk consultancy. Founded in 2016 by Simon Lay and Sam Liptrott after their experience working for major global multi-discipline engineering consultancies, the firm has grown from a two-person start-up into what it describes as the UK's leading independent fire-risk consultancy. It is headquartered in Manchester and operates from eight locations across the country, from Edinburgh to Bath, with plans for further expansion. The company is wholly owned by its staff. OFR provides specialist fire engineering advice across the full building lifecycle, from early design strategy and approvals support through to construction, occupation, remediation and research. Its service areas include design approvals and technical evidence, fire strategy, third-party peer review, advanced fire engineering analysis, construction and delivery, fire strategy implementation, construction-phase fire safety, novel construction solutions and materials, existing buildings and remediation, external wall fire safety, disputes and expert witness work, and specialist systems, research and technical leadership including fire suppression research. The firm supports clients, contractors, design teams, building owners and operators across a wide range of sectors and building types, tailoring its advice to each building's use, complexity and the decisions its clients need to make. OFR employs more than 170 colleagues from over 25 countries, and its globally established team works across the world to help protect people, property and the planet. The company has worked on prominent UK projects including Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Midland Metropolitan University Hospital and Old Paradise SE11, a sustainable timber landmark. It has published over 50 peer-reviewed technical papers and launched the UK's first Commercial Timber Guidebook. Its accreditations include ISO UKAS 9001:2015, ISO UKAS 45001:2018 and ISO UKAS 14001:2015, Cyber Essentials, Constructionline Gold membership, Achilles Safe Contractor and Supply Chain Sustainability School accreditation. The firm has received numerous awards, including a Construction News Award in 2021, Engineering Talent Awards Small-Medium Enterprise of the Year and SME National Business Awards Silver Employer of the Year in 2024, and Building Awards Engineering Consultant of the Year in 2025.

OFR Consultants was established in the United Kingdom in 2016 by Simon Lay and Sam Liptrott, following their experience working for major global multi-discipline engineering consultancies. The firm began as a two-person start-up and commenced work on projects in Europe and India, establishing offices in London and Scotland. In 2017 it expanded to Bath and Oxford, appointed an internal research team to deliver research into high-rise fire safety by CTBUH, and became wholly owned by its staff. In 2018 it established a presence in Leeds. By 2019 it had published over 50 peer-reviewed technical papers. In 2020 it was awarded ISO UKAS 9001:2015, ISO UKAS 45001:2018 and ISO UKAS 14001:2015 certifications, as well as Cyber Essentials certification. In 2021 it won a Construction News Award. In 2022 it became an ongoing WIFS sponsor. In 2023 it achieved Constructionline Gold Member Accreditation, Achilles Safe Contractor Accreditation and Supply Chain Sustainability School Accreditation. In 2024 it was named a North West Top 50 Company to Work For and a Top 10 Best Companies to Work For, received a Cert B Outstanding Award, won Engineering Talent Awards Small-Medium Enterprise of the Year, launched the UK's first Commercial Timber Guidebook, and received SME National Business Awards Silver Employer of the Year. In 2025 it received the Cert B World Class Award and the Building Awards Engineering Consultant of the Year. Today the company employs more than 170 colleagues from over 25 countries, operates from eight locations across the UK from Edinburgh to Bath, and has plans for further expansion.

• 2025

  Cert B World Class Award; Building Awards Engineering Consultant of the Year.

• 2024

  North West Top 50 Company to Work For; Top 10 Best Companies to Work For; Cert B Outstanding Award; Engineering Talent Awards – Small-Medium Enterprise of the Year; launched the UK's first Commercial Timber Guidebook; SME National Business Awards – Silver Employer of the Year.

• 2023

  Constructionline Gold Member Accreditation; Achilles Safe Contractor Accreditation; Supply Chain Sustainability School Accreditation.

• 2022

  Became ongoing WIFS sponsor.

• 2021

  Construction News Awards Winner.

• 2020

  Awarded ISO UKAS 9001:2015, ISO UKAS 45001:2018 & ISO UKAS 14001:2015; awarded Cyber Essentials certification.

• 2019

  Published over 50 peer-reviewed technical papers.

• 2018

  Established a presence in Leeds.

• 2017

  Expanded to Bath and Oxford; appointed internal research team to deliver research into high-rise fire safety by CTBUH; became wholly owned by staff.

• 2016

  Established in the UK by Simon Lay & Sam Liptrott; commenced work on projects in Europe and India; established offices in London and Scotland.

The UK's leading independent fire and risk consultancy, combining technical rigour, practical delivery experience and independent judgement.

• Design Approvals & Technical Evidence

• Fire Strategy

• Third Party Peer Review

• Advanced Fire Engineering Analysis

• Construction & Delivery

• Fire Strategy Implementation

• Construction Phase Fire Safety

• Novel Construction Solutions and Materials

• Existing Buildings and Remediation

• Existing Building Fire Safety

• External Wall Fire Safety

• Disputes & Expert Witness

• Specialist Systems, Research and Technical Leadership

• Fire Suppression Research

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