The importance of a fire strategy – Part 1: basis for design

It’s of key importance to the success of a project that all stakeholders within the built environment, including the client and project/design team, fully understand the necessity of a robust fire strategy.

Ultimately the building design will require formal approval by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) and in the Middle East this will involve authorisation by the local Civil Defence Department.

Guidance on fire safety management of the building requires specific consideration as it is often a design assumption that the building’s management will be of a high standard. A fire strategy is not just a key design document providing guidance on the code or engineered approach to be adopted during the design and construction process by all disciplines, it also details the management procedures to be implemented by the building’s end user/occupier. A copy of the fire strategy should be formally handed over to the occupier as it will ensure that relevant information is passed on to persons having responsibility for any future expansion plans, maintenance, fire safety etc. It’s a `living’ document and should be referenced for any future building alterations and/or changes to management procedures.

What goes wrong?

It is often assumed that all buildings meet local fire safety legislation and codes, and that building owners take the subject of fire safety seriously. Indeed many have used various fire consultants and fire system contractors over the years with the assumption that they were doing all the right things!

The reality

Often, particularly following a serious fire with loss of life and severe property damage, it can be seen that fire precautions were introduced in a piecemeal fashion with no common theme or objective. Issues have been dealt with as they arise resulting in inconsistent changes to fire safety. A common experience following investigation into an incident highlights that management and fire protection systems installed within a building can be confusing, unnecessarily complex and fail to protect in the event of a fire.

The solution?

These issues can often be negated by the introduction of a plan that considers what the true objectives should be over and above fire safety legislation. A plan that:

  • looks at all the key factors, not just those that are seen as relevant at that time;
  • follows a methodology;
  • considers the present and future needs.

This plan is the main intention of a fire strategy

A fire strategy should consider all aspects of fire safety and protection in a unified manner, allowing flexibility whilst ensuring that the key objectives have been met. The strategy should ensure that all key features of the building, occupancy and processes have been appropriately and properly covered.