Fire Safety Strategies

A fire strategy is a complex document specifically tailored to a building, reviewing all aspects of the building’s fire safety features, including management arrangements in place to ensure it is fit for use for the end user of the premises or intended purpose group. Approved documents are used predominantly as guidance for achieving the requirements of the Building Regulations for new residential and commercial buildings. However, they are not lawfully enforced, unlike the Building Regulations. Alternatively, associated approaches may be used such as that described in BS 9999, or a fire engineered approach in developing a fire strategy for a premises. 

 Where a building is erected or extended, or has undergone a material change of use, Regulation 38 of the Building Regulations requires that a package of fire safety information must be assembled and given to the responsible person of the premises. A fire strategy is commonly used as a means for collating and providing that information - albeit in many circumstances such information is sadly not provided. More enlightened building owners, given the recommendations made in the post Grenfell, Hackitt Review, are now commissioning retrospective strategies to address this lack of information. 

 A fire strategy is a technical document that sets the basis for fire safety control measures from the design of a building.  It is not a fire safety plan, or an evacuation plan/procedure. It is required to demonstrate compliance with Building Regulations, covering:

• Means of fire detection;
• Warning and escape;
• Internal fire spread (linings and structure);
• External fire spread; and
• Accessibility and facilities provided for the fire service.

Typically, a fire strategy will be produced at the design stage of a building in conjunction with architectural plans and is required as part of a building control submission. The document will also provide details of occupancy levels permitted within the building, against the provision of horizontal and vertical means of escape and levels of compartmentation.

The requirement for a fire strategy is not only applicable to new builds; they can also be produced for existing buildings. These are often known as ‘retrospective fire strategies’. As mentioned above, a fire strategy document forms an essential basis on which to conduct the fire risk assessment and it is important to note that a fire risk assessment cannot deviate from the fire strategy.

 A fire strategy plan looks at the building as a whole, taking into account how the building is constructed, the compartmentation strategy and means of escape. As mentioned above, they are created at the design stage and dictate how it is constructed, the materials used, and how it should be used by its inhabitants. In this way it is a more proactive document than a fire risk assessment. 

A fire risk assessment is carried out once a building is constructed and is in use. It is done on a regular basis and looks at any potential fire hazards in the building and what should be done to put them right. As a result, a fire risk assessment is more reactive to fire safety issues and does not look at how the building is constructed, the materials used etc. 

If you want your business, employees, and assets to be safe in the event of a fire, get in touch with us. We can carry out fire strategy reports with the promise to provide a report and support that will give you peace of mind.

We have worked on a number of buildings where compliance with codes of practise cannot be achieved. In such instances our fire engineers provide a range of options for our clients to consider.