A comprehensive fire strategy is essential for ensuring the safety of building occupants and the protection of property.
Tailored specifically to each building's characteristics, such a strategy outlines fire safety objectives, performance needs, and the methods to achieve them. Given the unique design, occupancy, and purpose of every structure, a custom fire strategy is vital to minimize fire risks and safeguard those within the premises.
Purpose of a Fire Strategy
The primary goal of a fire strategy is to facilitate the swift and secure evacuation of individuals, supported by both active and passive fire safety systems.
According to Regulation 38 of the Building Regulations, any new, extended, or significantly altered building must compile and provide a comprehensive package of fire safety information to the designated responsible party of the property. A fire strategy serves as a functional means of organizing and delivering this information, though many businesses often overlook this step. Furthermore, a well-developed strategy can provide reassurance and aid in quickly resuming operations following a fire incident.
Key Components of a Fire Strategy
An effective fire strategy must be precise and customized to the specific building and its contents
An effective fire strategy must be precise and customized to the specific building and its contents. Several critical elements should be included, such as methods for fire detection and warning, means of escape, and systems for both internal fire spread containment (e.g., compartmentation) and external fire spread management.
Consideration should also be given to fire department access, facilities, and any heightened fire risks specific to the building. Additionally, proper fire safety management for the premises is crucial. The fire strategy should be revisited whenever a fire risk assessment is performed.
Developing a Fire Strategy
Creating a fire strategy requires the expertise of a competent professional with extensive fire safety training. Companies like Total Fire Group offer services to construct a comprehensive strategy tailored to a building's specific needs.
Their consultancy team can assist in forming a fire strategy, reviewing existing documentation, and ensuring compliance with required standards. By doing so, they act as an integral part of a business's fire safety measures, verifying that all necessary information and details are included in the fire strategy.
A fire strategy is a complex document specifically tailored to a building, reviewing all aspects of the building’s fire safety.
A fire strategy defines the fire safety objectives and performance requirements for a building and the methods by which these objectives will be provided to ensure the safety of occupants and property protection.
Because every building is unique in terms of design, occupancy, and usage, the business needs a unique fire strategy to reduce the risk of a fire and ensure the safety of the people in the building.
Fire strategy
The aim of a fire strategy is to ensure that the people inside the building can evacuate quickly
The aim of a fire strategy is to ensure that the people inside the building can evacuate quickly and safely, protected by the active and passive fire systems.
Regulation 38 of the Building Regulations requires that, where a building is erected or extended, or has undergone a material change of use, 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, although in many circumstances, businesses do not do this. A fire strategy also provides peace of mind and security to the people in the building while including certain methods to ensure that the business can get up and running as quickly as possible after a fire.
Key elements
An effective fire strategy should be detailed and unique to the particular building and its contents. There are various aspects of a fire strategy that should be considered including:
- Means of warning in case of fire (fire detection)
- Means of escape
- Internal fire spread/passive fire protection/compartmentation
- External fire spread
- Access/facilities for the Fire & Rescue Service
- Other factors to consider such as increased fire risks present
- Fire safety management for the building
- Additionally, the fire strategy should be reviewed when carrying out a fire risk assessment.
Creating fire strategy
A fire strategy is a highly important document and should only be developed by a competent person with comprehensive fire training and experience.
Total Fire Group’s fire safety consultancy service can help a business put together a comprehensive fire strategy unique to the demands of the building. They can also help the review and update the fire strategy during fire risk assessments.
Total Fire Group really become a true extension of the business. As part of the fire safety partnership they will review the existing fire strategy documentation (if one has any) before confirming if they provide the correct level of information and detail in order to be compliant.
