A fire strategy report explains how a building will meet the fire safety requirements of the Building Regulations (Part B): how people escape, how fire is contained, and how firefighters can access and fight a fire. Building Control often asks for one on flats, conversions, commercial buildings and anything non-standard.
What it covers
- Means of escape: escape routes, travel distances, stairs and exits.
- Fire detection and alarms: the system needed for the building’s use.
- Compartmentation: fire-resisting walls, floors and doors that stop fire spreading.
- External fire spread: walls, cladding and boundaries.
- Firefighting access: fire service vehicle access, dry risers and firefighting shafts where needed.
- Sprinklers or water mist where required or used to justify design flexibility.
Which projects need one
Typically: blocks of flats and conversions into flats, HMOs, mixed-use buildings, commercial and public buildings, open-plan layouts that depart from standard guidance, and any project where Building Control asks for a fire-engineered approach.
We arrange fire strategy reports early in design, so your layout is right before plans are submitted.
When to commission it
At design stage, before plans go to Building Control. Fire strategy decisions affect stair positions, door types, glazing and even the number of units, so finding out late can mean redesign.
Fire strategy vs Fire Risk Assessment
A fire strategy is a design document for constructing or converting a building. A Fire Risk Assessment is a legal duty under the Fire Safety Order once a non-domestic building or the common parts of flats are in use. A good fire strategy makes the later risk assessment straightforward.
Related services: Fire Strategies, Fire Risk Assessments, Water Mist Suppression.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a fire strategy for a house?
Not usually for a straightforward house that follows standard guidance. Open-plan layouts, loft conversions creating three or more storeys, or unusual designs may need one.
Who writes a fire strategy report?
A fire engineer or competent fire safety consultant, working with your designer and Building Control.
Can a water mist system replace a protected stair?
In some open-plan designs, a suppression system can be part of an engineered solution agreed with Building Control. It depends on the building, so it needs to be assessed in the fire strategy.
Last reviewed: October 2026. General guidance for England only. Get project-specific advice before relying on it.
More guides in the Developer Knowledge Centre · Services: Fire Strategies, Fire Risk Assessment