A fire strategy is one of the most important documents in a building’s fire safety management system. It outlines how a building has been designed, equipped, and managed to prevent fire, limit fire spread, and ensure occupants can escape safely in the event of an emergency.
Fire strategies rely on a combination of passive and active fire safety systems, each playing a vital role in protecting life, property, and business continuity. When these systems work together effectively, they form a layered defence against fire risk.
In this article, we explore the key fire safety systems typically included within a fire strategy and explain why each one is essential.
Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
Early detection is critical in reducing the impact of a fire. Fire detection and alarm systems are designed to identify a fire quickly and alert occupants so they can evacuate safely.
Typical components include:
- Smoke detectors
- Heat detectors
- Multi-sensor detectors
- Manual call points
- Audible alarms and visual warning devices
The fire strategy will determine the appropriate alarm category, often based on BS 5839-1, such as:
- Category L1 – Maximum life protection
- Category L2 – Additional life protection
- Category L3 – Standard life protection
- Category L4 and L5 – Specific risk areas
Effective detection systems provide early warning, giving occupants valuable time to escape and allowing emergency services to respond promptly.
In need of some fire safety support? Speak with a member of our Fire Safety Team Here
Means of Escape
A fundamental part of any fire strategy is ensuring occupants can evacuate the building quickly and safely.
Means of escape planning considers:
- Escape route design
- Travel distances
- Staircases and protected stairwells
- Exit widths and capacities
- Final exits leading to a place of safety
These elements must comply with Approved Document B of the Building Regulations and relevant fire safety standards.
Proper escape planning ensures that even at maximum occupancy, people can leave the building safely during an emergency.
Emergency Lighting Systems
In many fires, the main power supply can fail. Emergency lighting ensures that escape routes remain visible and usable in low visibility or total darkness.
Emergency lighting systems are installed in areas such as:
- Escape routes and corridors
- Staircases
- Exit doors
- Fire alarm call points
- Fire safety equipment locations
These systems typically comply with BS 5266 Emergency Lighting Standards and are critical in supporting safe evacuation during an emergency.
Fire Compartmentation
Fire compartmentation is one of the most effective passive fire protection measures.
It involves dividing buildings into fire-resistant sections to prevent fire and smoke from spreading rapidly throughout a structure.
Common compartmentation features include:
- Fire-rated walls and floors
- Fire doors
- Fire dampers within ventilation systems
- Fire stopping around service penetrations
Effective compartmentation provides valuable time for occupants to escape and allows fire services to control the incident more effectively.
Smoke Control and Ventilation Systems
Smoke is responsible for the majority of fire-related fatalities. Fire strategies therefore include systems designed to control or remove smoke from buildings.
These systems may include:
- Natural smoke ventilation
- Mechanical smoke extraction systems
- Automatic Opening Vents (AOVs)
- Smoke shafts and smoke control dampers
Smoke control systems help keep escape routes clear of smoke, improving visibility and making evacuation safer.
Fire Suppression Systems
Some buildings require automatic fire suppression systems to control or extinguish fires before they grow.
These systems may include:
- Automatic sprinkler systems
- Water mist systems
- Gas suppression systems (for data centres or plant rooms)
- Foam suppression systems (industrial environments)
Suppression systems can significantly reduce fire damage and prevent fire spread, protecting both life and property.
Fire Safety Signage
Clear signage is essential for guiding occupants during an emergency.
Fire safety signage typically identifies:
- Fire exit routes
- Emergency exits
- Fire extinguishers
- Fire alarm call points
- Assembly points
Signage must comply with health and safety signage regulations and remain clearly visible even during an emergency.
Firefighting Equipment
Portable firefighting equipment allows trained individuals to tackle small fires before they escalate.
Typical equipment includes:
- Water fire extinguishers
- Foam extinguishers
- CO₂ extinguishers
- Dry powder extinguishers
- Fire blankets
The fire strategy will specify the type, number, and location of extinguishers based on the building’s risk profile.
Why Fire Strategies Are Essential
A fire strategy ensures that all fire safety systems within a building operate together effectively. Without a clear strategy, buildings may suffer from:
Fire Strategy Frequently Asked Questions
A fire strategy is a document that outlines how a building has been designed, equipped, and managed to prevent fire, limit its spread, and ensure occupants can evacuate safely. It is essential for ensuring all fire safety systems work together and that the building complies with fire safety legislation.
A fire strategy typically includes fire detection and alarm systems, means of escape planning, emergency lighting, fire compartmentation, smoke control systems, fire suppression systems, fire safety signage, and portable firefighting equipment.
Active fire safety systems detect and respond to fire, such as alarms and sprinklers. Passive systems, such as fire-rated walls, fire doors, and compartmentation, are built into the structure of a building to contain and slow the spread of fire without needing to be activated.
BS 5839-1 defines alarm categories based on the level of protection required. Category L1 provides maximum life protection across an entire building, while L2 and L3 offer additional and standard life protection respectively. Categories L4 and L5 cover specific risk areas within a building.
Means of escape planning covers the design of escape routes, travel distances to exits, protected stairwells, exit widths and capacities, and final exits leading to a place of safety. All elements must comply with Approved Document B of the Building Regulations.
Emergency lighting is required because fires can cause main power supplies to fail, leaving escape routes in darkness. It ensures corridors, staircases, exit doors, and fire safety equipment locations remain visible, supporting safe evacuation. Emergency lighting systems typically comply with BS 5266 standards.
Fire compartmentation divides a building into fire-resistant sections using fire-rated walls and floors, fire doors, fire dampers, and fire stopping around service penetrations. It slows the spread of fire and smoke, giving occupants more time to escape and helping fire services manage the incident.
Smoke inhalation is responsible for the majority of fire-related deaths. Smoke control systems — including natural ventilation, mechanical extraction, automatic opening vents, and smoke shafts — help keep escape routes clear of smoke, improving visibility and making evacuation safer.
Common fire suppression systems include automatic sprinklers, water mist systems, gas suppression systems (used in data centres or plant rooms), and foam suppression systems for industrial environments. These systems control or extinguish fires before they can grow and cause serious damage.
Automatic sprinkler systems are typically required in higher-risk buildings, taller residential buildings, large commercial premises, and certain occupancy types where the risk to life or property is elevated. The specific requirement will be determined by the building’s fire strategy and relevant regulations.
A fire strategy requires clear signage identifying fire exit routes, emergency exits, fire extinguisher locations, manual call points, and assembly points. Signage must comply with health and safety regulations and remain clearly visible during an emergency.
The type and number of extinguishers depends on the building’s risk profile. Common types include water, foam, CO₂, and dry powder extinguishers, as well as fire blankets. The fire strategy will specify the correct extinguisher for each area based on the potential fire risks present.
Without a fire strategy, a building may have inadequate evacuation procedures, poor fire compartmentation, insufficient detection systems, and fail to comply with fire safety legislation. This puts occupants at serious risk and can expose building owners and managers to legal liability.
A fire strategy is typically developed by a qualified fire safety professional or fire engineer, often during the building design phase. Ongoing responsibility lies with the building owner or responsible person, who must ensure all fire safety systems are maintained, regularly tested, and kept up to date.