What is a Fire Strategy?
A fire strategy is a complex document specifically tailored to a building, reviewing all aspects of the building’s fire safety features including construction, compartmentation strategy, means of escape and other fire safety features / measures. The strategy includes management arrangements in place to ensure it is fit for use for the end user of the premises or intended purpose group.
Why is a Fire Strategy important?
A fire strategy provides a comprehensive plan for managing fire risks within a building and is the overarching document that determines the physical compartmentation and fire resisting arrangements to underpin life safety and, where required, property protection. The Fire Safety Plans, forming part of the strategy, are used to accurately determine initial and ongoing requirements for passive fire compartmentation and fire doors.
The Building Safety Act 2022 and changes to the Building Regulations (2024) mandate Fire Strategies for all refurbishment and alteration projects, new developments and to existing High Risk (residential accommodation) over 18m or 7 storeys. Many routine residential schemes involving alterations will now require a fire strategy due to changes in the Building Regulations (Approved Document B) and BS9991: 2024.
What the Fire Strategy provides
Fire strategies should only be developed by a competent person with comprehensive training and experience; our engineering team includes Chartered and Graduate Fire Engineers, along with experienced Fire Consultants that will work with you to collate the information needed. Where information is not available we will work with you to assemble it.
The primary aim of the Fire Strategy is to outline how an acceptable level of life safety can be achieved in accordance with the Building Regulations. However, associated approaches may be used such as that described in BS 9999, BS9991 2024, BB 100 (school and educational premises) or alternative fire engineered solutions.
Our Fire Strategy service includes reviewing and reporting on:
- The existing building layout compared to record and design drawings (proposed layouts for new developments)
- Building Characteristics
- Occupants Characteristics
- Means of Escape and Warnings
- Internal Fire Spread
- Compartmentation of Escape Routes
- External Fire Spread
- Access and Facilities for Fire & Rescue
- Fire Safety Management Arrangements
- Passive and Active Fire Systems