The Plan Behind a Safe Building
Life safety designed in, not added on
A fire strategy explains how a building is designed and managed to keep people safe if there is a fire. It brings together the means of warning and escape, fire separation, fire detection and suppression, access for the fire and rescue service, and the management arrangements that hold it all together.
For new buildings and major works, a fire strategy supports your Building Regulations application and gives the design team a clear brief. For existing buildings, a retrospective fire strategy records how the building is meant to work, which is invaluable when the original design information has been lost or the building has changed over the years.
We write strategies that are practical to build and practical to manage, and we make sure they line up with the fire risk assessment the building will need once it is occupied.
What a Fire Strategy Covers
Evacuation strategy
Whether the building uses simultaneous, phased or stay put evacuation, and how that is supported by the design.
Means of escape
Escape routes, stair capacity, travel distances, protected lobbies and provision for people who need help to evacuate.
Warning and detection
The category of fire detection and alarm system needed, and how it links with other fire safety systems.
Fire spread
Fire resistance of the structure, compartmentation principles, internal linings and the fire performance of external walls.
Fire service access
Vehicle access, firefighting shafts, dry or wet risers, and information provided for the fire and rescue service.
Management in use
The management, testing and maintenance arrangements the building relies on once it is occupied.
Types of Fire Strategy
Written alongside the design team to support the Building Regulations application and guide the design through to completion.
Where a building is converted, for example from offices to flats, the strategy shows how the new use will be made safe.
For existing buildings, we review what is there and document how the building is intended to work, highlighting any gaps.
Why It Matters After Handover
Under Regulation 38 of the Building Regulations, fire safety information must be handed over to the responsible person when a project is complete. For higher-risk buildings, this information now forms part of the golden thread instead. Either way, a clear fire strategy is the core of it.
Without it, the people running the building are left guessing about how it was designed to behave in a fire. That makes fire risk assessments harder, alterations riskier and evacuation plans less reliable.
- Gives your fire risk assessor a clear starting point
- Reduces the risk of alterations undermining fire safety
- Supports the golden thread of information for higher-risk buildings
How We Work
Brief and information
We agree the scope and gather the drawings, specifications and any existing fire safety information.
Review and site visit
We review the design or survey the existing building, and talk to the design team or building managers.
Strategy and peer review
The strategy is written and then peer reviewed by a second senior consultant before it is issued.
Support through delivery
We answer design team questions and update the strategy as the project develops.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a fire strategy and a fire risk assessment?
A fire strategy describes how the building is designed to be safe from fire. A fire risk assessment looks at the building as it is actually being used and managed, and identifies what needs to be done. The two work together: a good strategy makes for a better fire risk assessment.
Do I need a fire strategy for an existing building?
It is not always a legal requirement, but if you do not have one it is very helpful to create one, particularly for larger or complex buildings, buildings that have been altered over time, and residential buildings where the evacuation strategy needs to be clearly understood.
When should we bring you into a project?
As early as possible. Fire safety decisions made at concept stage are far cheaper to get right than changes made once the design is fixed or the building is on site.
Planning a project or need a strategy for an existing building?
Talk to us early and we will help you get fire safety right from the start.
Related Services
Talk to Us About Fire Strategies
Tell us a little about your building and what you need. A consultant will come back to you with a clear scope and quote.