Fire Safety Strategies
A clear strategy for a safer, more successful building.
The Challenge
Fire safety cannot be considered one decision at a time.
Escape routes, compartmentation, fire resistance, smoke control, detection, suppression, firefighting access, and building management all influence one another.
When these elements are developed separately, inconsistencies can emerge. Requirements may be identified too late, important decisions can become disconnected from the wider design, and project teams may struggle to demonstrate how the building will operate safely as a complete system.
This becomes especially challenging where a building:
- Has a complex or innovative design.
- Includes multiple uses or occupancy types.
- Falls outside standard guidance.
- Involves an existing, historic, or listed structure.
- Connects with other buildings or developments.
- Must accommodate demanding operational requirements.
- Changes significantly during design or construction.
A successful fire safety strategy must bring these considerations together and provide a clear basis for design, approval, construction, and future use.
How Tenos Helps
One coordinated approach from concept to completion.
Establishing the fire safety objectives.
Identifying the relevant requirements, project-specific risks, client expectations, and wider priorities that should inform the strategy.
Reviewing the building design.
Considering the proposed use, occupancy, layout, construction, access, escape arrangements, and interaction with adjoining spaces or buildings.
Developing the strategy.
Defining a coordinated approach to means of escape, detection and alarm, fire spread, compartmentation, structural protection, smoke control, suppression, and fire service access.
Working with the wider design team.
Collaborating with architects, developers, engineers, contractors, and specialist designers to ensure the strategy is reflected consistently across the project.
Supporting the approval process.
Explaining the technical basis of the proposed approach and assisting the project team in its engagement with relevant approving authorities.
Producing fire strategy drawings.
Providing clear visual information that communicates the principal fire-safety arrangements, and responding as the design develops to keep later decisions consistent with the agreed strategy.
Why choose Tenos?
A plan that supports the whole project.
Bring clarity to complex design.
We translate interconnected requirements into a coordinated approach that the wider project team can understand and apply.
Protect design ambition.
Our engineers explore how fire-safety objectives can be achieved without automatically compromising the building’s character, functionality, or architectural intent.
Identify issues earlier.
Early strategy development can reveal constraints, dependencies, and areas requiring specialist analysis before they become costly or disruptive.
Support statutory approval.
We provide a clearly reasoned technical basis for the design and support constructive engagement with approving authorities.
Strengthen project coordination.
The strategy creates a shared reference point for architects, engineers, contractors, specialist designers, and building operators.
Maintain continuity.
Tenos can remain involved as the design develops, helping the team understand how changes affect the wider fire-safety approach.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is a fire safety strategy?
A fire safety strategy is a coordinated document that explains how a building will protect people and satisfy the relevant fire safety objectives. It brings together the design, construction, systems, escape arrangements, firefighting provisions, and management measures that contribute to the building’s overall safety.
When should a fire safety strategy be developed?
Ideally, strategy development should begin during feasibility or concept design. Early involvement gives the fire engineer a greater opportunity to influence key decisions and identify potential constraints before the design becomes fixed.
Is a fire safety strategy required for every building?
The level and form of strategy required will depend on the building, its use, complexity, applicable requirements, and the needs of the project team or approving authorities. Complex, innovative and higher-risk projects, such as those using modern methods of construction, are particularly likely to require a detailed, coordinated strategy.
Who uses the fire safety strategy?
The strategy may be used by the client, architects, engineers, contractors, specialist designers, approving authorities, building managers, and others responsible for designing, constructing, approving, or operating the building.
What is the difference between a fire safety strategy and a fire risk assessment?
A fire safety strategy generally defines how passive and active fire safety measures are designed into a building. A fire risk assessment is an audit which considers the people at risk, the fire hazards present, and the adequacy of fire precautions within premises that are being occupied or managed.
Can Tenos develop a strategy for an existing building?
Yes — strategy work may be required for refurbishment, change of use, extension, remediation, or where the existing fire-safety arrangements are unclear. The scope will depend on the available information and whether further surveys or investigations are required.
Can Tenos review an existing fire safety strategy?
Tenos can review an existing strategy to identify gaps, inconsistencies, outdated assumptions, or areas that may no longer align with the building or the proposed design.
Can the strategy change during a project?
Absolutely. Designs evolve, and changes can affect fire-safety assumptions. The strategy should be reviewed and updated as necessary to continue reflecting the coordinated design.
Does a fire safety strategy guarantee approval?
No consultant can guarantee statutory approval. Tenos can develop a robust, evidence-led strategy and support engagement with approving authorities, but formal decisions remain with the relevant authority.
When is advanced fire engineering needed?
Advanced analysis may be appropriate where the design falls outside standard guidance, involves unusual geometry or occupancy, or requires additional evidence to demonstrate that the proposed solution provides an appropriate level of safety.
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Talk to Tenos
Give your project a clear way forward.
Whether you are beginning a new development, reviewing an existing design, or trying to resolve a difficult approval issue, our fire engineers can help you establish a coordinated and proportionate strategy.