Prominent Kildare fire safety consultancy acquired by major firm
Top: Andrew Murphy, Partner, Erisbeg; Ray Cuddihy, Managing Director, Pro-Fire & Design. Bottom: Olivia Cuddihy, Financial Director, Pro-Fire & Design; John Brennan, Managing, Director ORS
ORS, Ireland's leading multidisciplinary building consultancy, has successfully acquired Pro-Fire & Design, a prominent fire safety consultancy headquartered in Kildare.
This acquisition marks ORS's fourth acquisition and its second in the fire safety consultancy sector, further cementing its position as the largest provider of fire safety and disability access consultancy in Ireland.
ProFire, founded in 2001 by Managing Director Ray Cuddihy, is well-regarded for its deep understanding of Ireland's intricate fire safety building regulations and its expertise in securing compliance, certification, and licensing across multiple sectors and complex developments.
Over the past 24 months, ORS has grown its fire safety team organically three-fold, further enhancing its capabilities and expertise in the industry. The firm recently appointed Des Fortune, formerly of Eamon O’Boyle and Associates, as the technical lead of fire safety consultancy across the group.
The upcoming introduction of the 2024 Building Regulations Technical Guidance Document B will significantly impact the construction industry, introducing more stringent safety measures and compliance requirements.
ORS has said it is ‘well-positioned’ to meet this increased demand for expertise, leveraging its expanded fire safety team and advanced capabilities to help clients navigate and comply with the new regulations effectively.
“This strategic move aligns perfectly with our commitment to offering unparalleled expertise in fire safety and disability access. With the upcoming changes to legislation, our enhanced capabilities are crucial for our clients and the construction industry as a whole,” said John Brennan, Managing Director of ORS.
“The integration of ProFire's expertise ensures that we can provide the highest level of comprehensive and innovative services, helping our clients navigate the new regulations effectively and maintain the highest standards of safety and compliance."
Mr Cuddihy said their ability to leverage ORS's extensive resources and technical capabilities “will enable us to enhance and optimise our existing operations, resulting in significant synergies and expanded service delivery. This acquisition reflects our commitment to growth and value creation for our clients. We also believe there is significant potential to unlock additional opportunities in the fire safety consultancy market.”
