Demountable Partitioning RAMS: Method Statements for System Partition Installation

Table of Contents

• Why Demountable Partitioning RAMS Matter
• Key Hazards in System Partition Installation
• Fire Stopping and Acoustic Sealing Requirements
• Working at Height During Partition Installation
• CDM 2015 Obligations
• What Your Partitioning RAMS Must Cover
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Next Steps

Why Demountable Partitioning RAMS Matter

Demountable partition systems — including aluminium-framed glazed partitions, solid panel partitions, and moveable wall systems — are a core element of commercial office fit-out. Despite being non-structural, their installation involves a range of hazards that must be documented in a RAMS before work begins.

Under CDM 2015, partitioning contractors are duty holders regardless of the size of their package. A RAMS must be produced, approved by the principal contractor, and communicated to all operatives. On multi-trade fit-out projects, the principal contractor will typically require all RAMS to be submitted at least five days before works commence.

This guide covers what a compliant demountable partitioning RAMS must include, with particular focus on the fire stopping and acoustic sealing obligations that are most frequently omitted from partition contractor documents.

Browse all trade RAMS templates on the RAMS AI trade hub — covering 22 specialist construction trades.

Key Hazards in System Partition Installation

Your risk assessment must identify the significant hazards for the specific partition system being installed. Common hazards include:

• Manual handling of glazed panels and frames — Full-height glazed partition panels can weigh 40 to 80 kg per panel. Manual handling risk assessments must address weight, awkward shapes, carrying routes through tight spaces, and the use of mechanical handling aids such as suction cup panel movers and glazing trolleys.
• Glass breakage — Glazed partition glass must be toughened safety glass to BS EN 12150. Your RAMS must specify the handling procedure for glazed panels including padding requirements, no-stacking rules, and the disposal procedure for broken glass (including the use of glass bags and specialist waste skips).
• Working at height — Partition installation routinely involves working from podium steps, hop-ups, or mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) to fix head tracks, install high-level glazing, and seal the perimeter at the ceiling. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 hierarchy must be applied and documented.
• Fixings into structural elements — Base tracks and head tracks are typically fixed into concrete slab soffits and structural floors. Drilling creates silica dust and noise hazards. Your RAMS must include COSHH controls for concrete dust and specify hearing protection where noise action levels are exceeded.
• Working in an occupied building — Commercial fit-out frequently occurs in occupied premises. Your RAMS must address dust suppression, noise management at occupied floor levels, and the segregation of work areas from building users.

Fire Stopping and Acoustic Sealing Requirements

This is the area most frequently inadequately addressed in partitioning RAMS. Demountable partitions do not simply divide space — in most commercial applications, they must also provide:

• Fire compartmentation — Partitions forming fire compartment boundaries must achieve the specified fire resistance rating (typically 30 or 60 minutes). The gap between the top of the partition head track and the structural soffit must be fire stopped using an intumescent sealant or mineral wool packing approved for the system. Your RAMS must specify the fire stopping product and its classification (tested to BS EN 1366-4 or equivalent).
• Acoustic performance — Sound reduction class (Rw) requirements are specified on the partition schedule. Achieving specified acoustic ratings requires careful perimeter sealing — any gap around the head track, base track, or through-panel penetration will degrade performance. Your method statement should describe how perimeter seals are checked before glazed panels are fitted.
• Penetration sealing — Where services pass through partition walls (cables, conduit, pipes), the penetration must be fire stopped and sealed for acoustic performance. Your RAMS must specify who is responsible for this — typically the M&E contractor — and confirm that the partition contractor will not leave unsealed penetrations on completion.

Failure to properly document fire stopping in your RAMS is not just a compliance issue — it can expose the principal contractor, principal designer, and building owner to liability under the Building Safety Act 2022.

Working at Height During Partition Installation

Working at height is present throughout partition installation. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require that work at height is avoided where reasonably practicable, and where it cannot be avoided, collective protective measures must be preferred over personal protective equipment.

For partition installation, the height hierarchy typically produces the following sequence:

• Podium steps or hop-ups for work up to 2.5 m — preferred for most head track fixing and glazing installation
• Mobile access towers for sustained work above 2.5 m — required where multiple runs of high-level work are involved
• MEWPs — appropriate where access tower deployment is impractical due to floor obstruction or restricted area width

Your RAMS must specify which type of access equipment will be used for each phase of the installation and confirm that all operatives using MEWPs or access towers hold the appropriate competency certificates (IPAF for MEWPs, PASMA for access towers).

CDM 2015 Obligations

Partitioning contractors on commercial fit-out projects are contractors under CDM 2015. Key obligations include:

• Producing a project-specific RAMS (not a generic company document)
• Submitting the RAMS to the principal contractor and awaiting written approval before starting work
• Conducting a pre-start briefing with all operatives on the content of the RAMS
• Cooperating with the principal contractor's site rules, induction, and emergency procedures
• Reporting any near misses, incidents, or significant changes to the installation method

What Your Partitioning RAMS Must Cover

• Partition system type, manufacturer, and specification reference
• Scope: areas to be partitioned, glazing specification, door sets included
• Manual handling assessment for glazed panels and frame components
• Glass handling procedure, breakage management, and disposal
• Working at height: access equipment types, competency requirements, inspection records
• COSHH assessment for concrete dust from drilling operations
• Fire stopping specification: product name, test classification, installation method
• Acoustic sealing procedure and quality check before panel installation
• Penetration sealing coordination with M&E contractor
• Occupied building controls: dust suppression, noise management, segregation
• Emergency procedures and nearest first aid point
• Waste management for glass, packaging, and off-cuts

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a separate RAMS for glazed and solid partition sections?

Not necessarily. If the hazard profile is similar (same fixing methods, same working at height equipment, same head track detail), a single RAMS covering both types is acceptable. However, if your glazed partition involves particularly heavy or fragile panels requiring specialist handling equipment, it is good practice to include a dedicated section or appendix in your RAMS addressing those specific conditions.

Who is responsible for the fire stopping inspection — the partitioning contractor or the principal contractor?

The partitioning contractor is responsible for installing fire stopping in accordance with the specification and for checking the installation before closing the detail with subsequent finishes. The principal contractor is responsible for ensuring that inspections take place and are recorded as part of the project's quality management system. On Building Safety Act higher-risk buildings, inspection records become part of the Golden Thread and must be handed over at practical completion.

Can we use our standard company RAMS template for a commercial fit-out job?

A standard template is a starting point only. CDM 2015 requires that your RAMS is specific to the project — the site address, scope, access equipment, relevant subcontractors, emergency contacts, and site-specific hazards (such as the occupied building status) must be included. Submitting an unmodified template is one of the most common reasons for RAMS rejection by principal contractors.

Next Steps

Your demountable partitioning RAMS is a live document. If the partition layout changes during the project — as is very common in commercial fit-out — the RAMS must be reviewed and updated, and the principal contractor must approve the revised document before work recommences on the affected areas.