ORS complete fourth acquisition in 12 months, expanding fire safety expertise
ORS, Ireland’s leading multidisciplinary building consultancy, has successfully acquired Pro-Fire and Design, a fire safety consultancy headquartered in Kildare.
The 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.
Following four deals in 12 months, revenue at ORS has increased 300% since 2022 to €25 million.
The expansion comes after private equity firm Erisbeg took a majority stake in ORS last year and approved plans to accelerate growth and double capacity.
ORS have a proven track record of delivering innovative build solutions across various industries. They offer a comprehensive range of services that encompass civil and structural engineering, project management, infrastructure, health and safety, building surveying, assigned certifier, fire safety, energy management, environmental, and mechanical and electrical services.
ProFire, founded in 2001 by managing director Ray Cuddihy, is well regarded for a deep understanding of Ireland’s intricate fire safety building regulations and expertise in securing compliance, certification, and licensing across multiple sectors and complex developments.
Over the last 24 months, ORS have grown their fire safety team organically three-fold. The firm recently appointed Des Fortune, formerly of Eamon O’Boyle and Associates, as the technical lead of fire safety consultancy.
The upcoming introduction of the 2024 Building Regulations Technical Guidance Document B will significantly affect the construction industry, introducing more stringent safety measures and compliance requirements.
ORS are well positioned to meet the increased demand for expertise, with their expanded fire safety team and advanced capabilities to help clients navigate and comply with the new regulations effectively.
“This move aligns perfectly with our commitment to offering expertise in fire safety and disability access,” said John Brennan, managing director of ORS.
“With the upcoming changes to legislation, our enhanced capabilities are crucial for our clients and the construction industry as a whole.
“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.”
Ray Cuddihy, managing director of ProFire, added: “Our 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.”
Andrew Murphy, Erisbeg Partner, said the acquisition reflects the ongoing ORS commitment to strategic growth and capability enhancement. “These acquisitions align with our focus on driving innovation and delivering value to clients and supporting ORS management in executing an agreed strategic vision. There is a common goal for Erisbeg to continue to back management in ORS, to scale both organically and through acquisition to enhance the company’s leadership in the market.”