What’s Included in a Fire Strategy Report?

A fire strategy report is one of the most important documents in the design, approval, and ongoing management of a building. It sets out how a building will achieve an appropriate level of fire safety for occupants, firefighters, neighbouring properties, and the structure itself.

For developers, architects, building owners, managing agents, and design teams, understanding what a fire strategy report includes is essential. The report provides the framework for complying with Building Regulations, supporting planning applications, coordinating fire safety systems, and demonstrating a clear approach to life safety throughout the building lifecycle.

In the UK, fire strategy reports have become increasingly important following changes to legislation, updates to Approved Document B, the Building Safety Act, and stricter requirements for higher-risk buildings. Approved Document B confirms that fire safety provisions must address means of warning and escape, internal and external fire spread, structural fire resistance, and fire service access.

This article explains exactly what a fire strategy report contains, why it matters, and how it supports compliance and safer building design.

What Is a Fire Strategy Report?

A fire strategy report is a detailed technical document prepared by a competent fire engineer or fire consultant. It explains how fire safety measures within a building work together to meet the requirements of legislation and guidance.

The report usually forms part of the wider design and approval process for:

Residential developments

Commercial buildings

Mixed-use schemes

High-rise buildings

Healthcare facilities

Educational buildings

Hotels

Industrial premises

Refurbishments and change-of-use projects

A fire strategy report does not simply list fire safety systems. It explains the logic behind the design and demonstrates how the building will behave during a fire.

The document often supports compliance with:

Building Regulations Approved Document B

BS 9991

BS 9999

London Plan Policy D12

The Building Safety Act

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order

Fire engineering standards such as BS 7974

The London Plan Fire Safety Guidance states that fire safety strategy development should begin at the earliest design stage and evolve alongside the building design and evacuation strategy.

Why a Fire Strategy Report Matters

A fire strategy report creates a coordinated approach to fire safety. Without a clear strategy, building systems often become fragmented, inconsistent, or non-compliant.

The report helps:

Demonstrate compliance with Building Regulations

Support planning and Gateway applications

Coordinate architects, MEP engineers, and structural designers

Define evacuation procedures

Reduce design conflicts during construction

Inform ongoing building management

Support the “golden thread” of fire safety information

Modern fire safety design requires much more than meeting minimum code requirements. Authorities increasingly expect evidence-based design decisions supported by clear technical reasoning.

For higher-risk buildings, a poorly developed fire strategy can delay planning approval, Gateway submissions, construction programmes, and occupation.

Core Sections Included in a Fire Strategy Report

While the exact structure varies depending on the building type and complexity, most fire strategy reports contain several key sections.

1. Executive Summary

The report normally begins with an overview of the project and the proposed fire safety philosophy.

This section typically includes:

Building description

Use classification

Height and storey count

Occupancy type

Applicable regulations and standards

Summary of key fire safety measures

Overall evacuation strategy

The summary allows stakeholders, building control officers, and fire authorities to quickly understand the proposed approach.

2. Building Description

A fire strategy report must clearly explain the building layout and intended use.

This section usually covers:

Building size and dimensions

Number of floors

Basements

Compartment layouts

Mixed-use arrangements

Occupancy profiles

Structural construction

Fire safety management assumptions

Approved Document B identifies different purpose groups for buildings and confirms that fire precautions vary depending on occupancy risk and use type.

The report also identifies any unusual design features, such as:

Atriums

Open-plan layouts

Deep basements

Podium developments

Timber construction

Complex façade systems

Large assembly spaces

3. Applicable Codes and Standards

Every fire strategy report defines which guidance documents and standards have informed the design.

Typical references include:

Approved Document B

BS 9991 for residential buildings

BS 9999 for non-residential buildings

BS 7974 for fire engineering

British Standards for alarm systems, sprinklers, smoke control, and emergency lighting

The report explains whether the design follows prescriptive guidance or adopts a fire-engineered approach.

Approved Document B recognises that alternative approaches and fire engineering solutions may be appropriate where standard guidance does not fully address complex buildings.

4. Means of Escape Strategy

Means of escape is one of the most important parts of a fire strategy report.

This section explains how occupants will reach a place of safety during a fire.

It normally includes:

Occupant numbers

Escape route layouts

Travel distances

Exit widths

Final exits

Protected corridors

Stair design

Refuge areas

Evacuation lifts

Horizontal and vertical escape provisions

The report demonstrates that escape routes remain tenable long enough for occupants to evacuate safely.

Approved Document B identifies means of warning and escape as a fundamental fire safety requirement.

For higher-risk and inclusive buildings, the fire strategy may also address:

Simultaneous evacuation

Stay-put evacuation

Phased evacuation

Progressive horizontal evacuation

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)

The London Plan Fire Safety Guidance requires evacuation strategies to account for disabled occupants, people requiring level access, and individuals who may not understand English.

5. Fire Detection and Alarm Systems

A fire strategy report explains how occupants receive warning of a fire.

This section typically identifies:

Alarm category

Detector types

Coverage areas

Cause-and-effect strategy

Voice alarm systems

Monitoring arrangements

Interface with smoke control and lifts

The report defines how systems align with BS 5839 and the overall evacuation strategy.

In residential buildings, the strategy may explain the relationship between:

Common area detection

Flat detection systems

Stay-put policies

Simultaneous evacuation override systems

6. Compartmentation and Fire Resistance

Compartmentation is a critical element of modern fire safety design.

This section explains how fire and smoke spread will be controlled within the building.

The report usually includes:

Fire compartment layouts

Fire resistance periods

Compartment wall specifications

Floor fire separation

Fire door ratings

Service penetration protection

Fire-stopping requirements

Cavity barrier provisions

Approved Document B states that buildings must limit fire spread, prevent premature collapse, and restrict unseen fire and smoke spread through cavities.

The report may also include compartmentation drawings and detailed junction requirements for contractors and specialist subcontractors.

7. Structural Fire Protection

A fire strategy report assesses how the building structure performs during fire conditions.

This section identifies:

Structural fire resistance periods

Primary structural elements

Loadbearing walls

Steel protection systems

Concrete cover requirements

Timber fire performance

Stability considerations

The strategy demonstrates that the structure can maintain stability long enough for evacuation and firefighting operations.

For complex projects, structural fire engineering calculations may also be included.

8. Smoke Control Systems

Smoke presents one of the greatest risks during a fire.

The fire strategy report explains how smoke will be managed to protect escape routes and firefighting access.

Systems may include:

Natural smoke ventilation

Mechanical smoke extraction

Pressurisation systems

Smoke shafts

Corridor ventilation

Basement smoke control

Car park extraction systems

The report defines:

Design criteria

System operation

Trigger mechanisms

Backup power arrangements

Maintenance access

Smoke control design must align closely with the evacuation strategy and building geometry.

9. Fire Suppression Systems

The report identifies whether suppression systems are required or proposed voluntarily.

This section commonly includes:

Sprinkler systems

Water mist systems

Gaseous suppression systems

Foam systems

Dry risers and wet risers

Approved Document B includes guidance on automatic fire suppression measures and sprinkler provisions.

The strategy explains:

Design standards

Hazard classifications

Coverage areas

Water supplies

Pump arrangements

Monitoring systems

In some cases, suppression systems support design trade-offs such as extended travel distances or reduced compartment sizes.

10. External Fire Spread and Façade Design

Following major changes to UK fire safety regulation, façade design now forms a major part of most fire strategy reports.

This section assesses:

External wall construction

Combustibility of materials

Cladding systems

Insulation products

Balcony construction

Spandrel details

Fire barriers

Cavity barriers

Approved Document B contains specific guidance on resisting fire spread over external walls and restrictions on combustible materials.

The report often references:

BS 8414 testing

BR 135 assessments

Regulation 7 compliance

Material classifications under BS EN 13501

11. Fire Service Access and Facilities

The fire strategy report explains how firefighters will access the building and operate safely.

This section may include:

Appliance access routes

Turning circles

Hardstanding locations

Firefighting shafts

Firefighting stairs

Firefighting lifts

Dry risers

Wet risers

Hydrants

Wayfinding signage

Approved Document B identifies access and facilities for the fire service as a core requirement of fire safety design.

The London Plan Fire Safety Guidance also requires developments to identify suitable emergency access routes and contingency access arrangements.

12. Evacuation Strategy

The evacuation strategy forms a dedicated section in many fire strategy reports.

This explains:

How occupants evacuate

When evacuation occurs

Which occupants evacuate first

How disabled occupants evacuate

Whether stay-put principles apply

How phased evacuation operates

The strategy may incorporate:

Refuge spaces

Evacuation lifts

Assisted evacuation procedures

Fire wardens

Management controls

The London Plan Guidance states that evacuation strategies must remain robust, inclusive, and periodically reviewed throughout the building lifecycle.

13. Fire Safety Management

A fire strategy report often outlines assumptions regarding future building management.

This section may address:

Maintenance requirements

Testing procedures

Staff training

Fire drills

Inspection regimes

Fire door management

Permit-to-work systems

Resident communication strategies

Approved Document B notes that building fire safety depends on proper ongoing management and maintenance of escape routes and systems.

14. Construction Phase Fire Safety

Some reports also include guidance for the construction stage.

This can cover:

Temporary fire alarms

Hot works controls

Temporary escape routes

Site access

Fire water supplies

Construction sequencing risks

This section becomes especially important for:

Timber construction

Modular buildings

High-rise developments

Occupied refurbishment projects

15. Fire Engineering Analysis

Where prescriptive guidance alone cannot demonstrate compliance, the report may include fire engineering assessments.

These can involve:

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)

Evacuation modelling

Smoke modelling

Structural fire analysis

Probabilistic risk assessment

Performance-based design justification

Approved Document B recognises BS 7974 as a framework for fire safety engineering in complex buildings.

16. Drawings and Supporting Information

Most fire strategy reports include supporting drawings such as:

General arrangement plans

Compartmentation plans

Escape diagrams

Smoke ventilation layouts

Firefighting access plans

Fire alarm zoning drawings

These drawings help contractors, building control officers, and managing agents understand how systems integrate throughout the building.

When Is a Fire Strategy Report Required?

A fire strategy report may be required for:

Planning applications

Gateway submissions

Building control approval

Refurbishment projects

Change-of-use schemes

Higher-risk buildings

Complex or non-standard buildings

External wall remediation works

In London, major developments require Fire Statements under London Plan Policy D12B.

Non-major developments may still require a Planning Fire Safety Strategy depending on the scope of works.

Who Prepares a Fire Strategy Report?

A competent fire engineer or specialist fire consultant should prepare the report.

For complex projects, the London Plan Guidance recommends suitably qualified professionals registered with the Institution of Fire Engineers and Engineering Council.

The author should have experience relevant to:

Building type

Occupancy risk

Fire engineering methods

Applicable legislation

Performance-based design

FAQs About Fire Strategy Reports

What is the purpose of a fire strategy report?

A fire strategy report explains how a building achieves an acceptable level of fire safety. It demonstrates compliance with regulations and coordinates all fire safety systems into a single strategy.

Who needs a fire strategy report?

Developers, architects, building owners, managing agents, and design teams may require a fire strategy report for planning, building control approval, Gateway applications, refurbishments, or higher-risk buildings.

Is a fire strategy report a legal requirement?

Many projects require a fire strategy report to demonstrate compliance with Building Regulations and planning policy. Higher-risk buildings and major developments increasingly require formal fire safety documentation.

What is included in a fire strategy report?

Typical contents include:

Means of escape

Fire alarms

Smoke control

Compartmentation

Structural fire protection

Fire service access

Evacuation strategy

Fire suppression systems

External wall fire performance

Fire safety management arrangements

Who can write a fire strategy report?

A competent fire engineer or qualified fire consultant should prepare the report. Complex developments may require chartered professionals with recognised fire engineering qualifications.

What is the difference between a fire strategy report and a fire risk assessment?

A fire strategy report focuses on building design and regulatory compliance. A fire risk assessment evaluates fire risks in an occupied building and identifies operational management measures.

When should a fire strategy report be prepared?

The fire strategy should begin at the earliest design stage and evolve throughout planning, design, construction, and occupation.

Can a fire strategy report change during a project?

Yes. Fire strategies often develop as the building design evolves. Any changes must maintain compliance and preserve the overall fire safety approach.

Why choose an experienced fire strategy consultant?

Fire safety requirements continue to evolve rapidly across the UK construction sector. An experienced consultant helps reduce approval delays, coordinate multidisciplinary teams, manage design risk, and deliver compliant, buildable solutions.

At Anstey Horne, our fire strategy specialists work closely with developers, architects, contractors, and building owners to provide practical, compliant, and commercially focused fire safety advice across a wide range of building types and sectors.

Contact

If you require expert Fire advice for a new development, existing building, Higher-Risk Building, or refurbishment project, contact Anstey Horne to speak with our specialist team.

We help clients deliver compliant, safe, and commercially successful buildings through clear, practical, and technically robust Fire Strategies.

For more information please call 020 4534 3130.

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