You may need fire design consultancy when planning a new development, refurbishment, extension, fit-out, conversion or change of use. It can also be useful where Building Control, an architect, contractor, landlord, insurer or fire risk assessor has raised a fire safety concern.

Early advice is especially helpful for projects involving complex layouts, multiple occupancy, protected escape routes, compartmentation, fire doors, commercial premises, residential blocks, or buildings where the existing fire safety information is unclear.

Yes. A fire design consultancy can help assess whether a proposed design is likely to meet the fire safety requirements of the Building Regulations. This may include assessing means of escape, internal fire spread, external fire spread, compartmentation, fire doors, fire detection, smoke ventilation and access for firefighting.

For many projects, fire safety input can help support design decisions and provide clearer information for architects, developers, contractors and Building Control. It can also help highlight areas where further fire engineering input or design changes may be required.

Early fire safety advice can help prevent design problems before they become expensive or difficult to fix. Issues with escape routes, fire doors, compartmentation, travel distances, protected stairways or firefighting access are much easier to address at the design stage than after construction has started.

Considering fire safety early can also help reduce delays, support smoother communication with project teams, and provide greater confidence that the building will be suitable for its intended use.

Fire design consultancy can support a wide range of projects, including commercial units, offices, industrial premises, residential buildings, HMOs, mixed-use buildings, refurbishments, fit-outs, extensions and changes of use.

The level of support required will depend on the size, complexity and risk profile of the building. Some projects may only need a design review, while others may require more detailed fire safety input throughout the design and construction process.

A fire design review will usually require drawings, floor plans, proposed layouts, details of the building use, occupancy information, escape routes, fire door locations, compartmentation details, alarm systems, smoke control arrangements and any existing fire safety documents.

The more accurate the information provided, the more useful the advice will be. Where information is missing, a review can still help identify gaps, risks and areas that may need further investigation.