A fire strategy may be required for a new development, major refurbishment, change of use or complex building design where the proposed fire safety measures need to be clearly defined and coordinated.

The fire strategy establishes how fire safety will be addressed across the building, including means of escape, compartmentation, fire resistance, detection and alarm systems, smoke control, firefighting facilities and access for the fire and rescue service.

Fire strategies can be particularly important for complex, non-standard or higher-risk buildings, where straightforward application of prescriptive guidance may not adequately address the design.

IFI can provide fire engineering input throughout the design process, helping project teams develop a coordinated fire safety approach that considers the relevant regulations, guidance, standards and project-specific requirements.

A fire strategy report provides a detailed explanation of the fire safety approach for a building. The exact scope will depend on the project, building type, design and stage of development.

A fire strategy may consider areas including means of escape, evacuation, compartmentation, fire resistance, internal and external fire spread, fire detection and alarm systems, emergency lighting, smoke control, firefighting facilities and fire service access.

It can also identify the relevant legislation, Building Regulations, standards and guidance used to develop the strategy and explain any fire-engineered solutions adopted where the design differs from conventional guidance.

Where appropriate, IFI can also provide supporting fire strategy drawings to clearly communicate important fire safety information to architects, contractors, consultants and other members of the project team.

Existing buildings can require a fire strategy, particularly where the original fire safety information is missing, incomplete or no longer reflects the current layout or use of the building.

A fire strategy may also be appropriate following significant refurbishment, alterations, a change of use or where a building owner needs a clearer understanding of how the building’s different fire safety measures work together.

In these situations, a retrospective fire strategy can document the existing fire safety arrangements, identify relevant assumptions and provide a structured overview of the building’s overall fire safety approach.

IFI can review available documentation, drawings and relevant building information and, where necessary, work alongside inspection and survey teams to develop a fire strategy appropriate to the existing building.

A fire risk assessment and a fire strategy serve different purposes and one should not automatically be considered a replacement for the other.

A fire risk assessment primarily considers the fire risks associated with the occupation and ongoing management of a building. It identifies fire hazards, people who may be at risk and measures required to manage those risks.

A fire strategy, by comparison, considers how the building’s fire safety measures are designed to work together. It typically addresses areas such as means of escape, compartmentation, fire resistance, evacuation, smoke control, firefighting provisions and fire service access.

Put simply, a fire strategy explains the building’s overall fire safety design and approach, while a fire risk assessment evaluates fire risks associated with the building’s use and management.

Depending on the building and applicable requirements, both may therefore be necessary.

Yes. Independent Fire Engineering can produce retrospective fire strategies for existing buildings where suitable fire strategy information is unavailable, outdated or incomplete.

Developing a retrospective strategy can involve reviewing existing drawings and documentation, considering the building’s construction, layout and use, and assessing the fire safety measures currently in place.

The resulting report provides a clearer record of the building’s fire safety approach and can help building owners, facilities managers and other responsible parties understand how the various fire safety measures are intended to work together.

Because existing buildings can differ significantly from their original design documentation, the scope required for a retrospective fire strategy will depend on the building and the quality of the information available.

Ideally, a fire engineer should be involved as early as possible in the design process. For many projects, engaging a fire engineer during RIBA Stage 2 (Concept Design) allows fundamental fire safety considerations to influence the developing design rather than being addressed retrospectively.

Fire engineering input can then continue through RIBA Stage 3 (Spatial Coordination) and RIBA Stage 4 (Technical Design) as the fire strategy becomes more detailed and coordinated with the architectural, structural and building-services designs.

Early appointment can help identify potential issues involving escape routes, staircases, compartmentation, firefighting access and other key design considerations before significant design decisions have been fixed.

IFI can also become involved at later RIBA stages where specialist fire engineering advice, design review or independent peer review is required.

The cost of a fire engineering consultation or fire strategy depends on the size, complexity and type of building, the scope of work required and the stage of the project.

A relatively straightforward development may require a different level of fire engineering input from a large residential development, higher-risk building, complex commercial property or existing building requiring a retrospective fire strategy.

Other factors can include whether fire strategy drawings, site visits, design meetings, CFD modelling, evacuation modelling or additional technical assessments are required.

IFI Group therefore provides quotations based on the individual requirements of each project rather than applying a standard price.

Contact Independent Fire Engineering with your project details, drawings or existing fire safety documentation and our team can review your requirements and provide an appropriate scope and quotation.