If you’re the owner of a building, or are responsible for managing it and are looking at doing internal, extension or building work, a package of fire safety information must be collected and given to the responsible person of the premises. This is called a fire strategy document. Continue reading to find out more about fire strategies.
What is a fire strategy document?
A fire strategy is a British Standards Institution document that provides “a clear set of measures encompassing fire precautions, management of fire safety and fire protection.” The aim of a fire strategy report is to reduce risks to life while protecting business procedures and assets.
Regulation 38 of the Building Regulations states that the fire safety information must be handed to the person responsible for the work that is being carried out on the property not later than the date of completion of the work, or the date of occupation, whichever is earlier. This information is usually in the form of a fire strategy. If this information hasn’t been provided in advance, or isn’t available at the property, a fire strategy must be commissioned retrospectively. This is used to analyse the potential fire spread and implement a plan to minimise the risk and possible destruction that could be caused by a fire.
A fire strategy may also be commissioned at the design stage of a building project, ensuring that the required fire safety features of the final build have been identified and incorporated into the plans.
Why might a building require a fire strategy?
It is not clearly identified in legislation that businesses must have a fire strategy report. But to meet the requirements of fire safety and building legislation, it’s clear that without a fire strategy, it is not possible to monitor performance or ensure that a fire risk assessment is suitable and sufficient.
A fire strategy provides building owners, managers and occupiers with the relevant information to achieve effective fire prevention. Also, it forms a basis for a fire risk assessment to be conducted on the premises.
What does a fire strategy report cover?
At NW Fire Solutions, you can rely on our qualified fire safety experts to put together an excellent fire strategy report for your property. What does the fire strategy document cover, though?
- A fire safety strategy.
- Assumptions regarding the management of the building.
- An evacuation strategy and high-level cause and effect.
- Escape routes and muster points.
- Details of compartmentation, cavity barriers, fire doors, fire stopping and opening protectives.
- Smoke detector heads, alarm call points, alarm panels, emergency communication systems, fire safety signage, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers.
All of the above should be shown in the final as-built plans, assisting future building managers and responsible persons to run the building safely.
Fire safety services with NW Fire Solutions
If you require a fire strategy report on your building, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at NW Fire Solutions on 0151 665 0124.
Backed by years of specialised experience, NW Fire Solutions offers fire stopping surveys, fire compartmentation surveys and fire strategy reports across the UK.
By following our professional and proven process, we deliver detailed fire strategy documents to ensure your building is fire safe. With years of fire safety and building construction knowledge and experience, our fire engineers are experts in identifying and applying fire strategy in buildings, as per the approved British Standards.