Building consultants ORS complete fourth acquisition in 12 months, expanding fire safety expertise

Mullingar-headquartered firm on the acquisition trail after investment by Erisbeg private equity

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.

Following four deals in 12 months, revenue at ORS has increased 300% since 2022 to €25 million. The company expansion comes after private equity firm Erisbeg took a majority stake in ORS last year and approved plans to accelerate its growth strategy and double capacity.

ORS has a proven track record of delivering innovative build solutions across various industries. It offers 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 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 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.”

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 of ProFire is the fourth by ORS in the past 12 months, reflecting its ongoing 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.”

Going forward, ORS and ProFire, as part of the ORS Group, are dedicated to ensuring high-quality services for their existing clients. It will be business as usual across the group.