Fire Strategies By Design
A fire strategy is the technical blueprint that defines how a building is designed, constructed and managed to protect life and property in the event of fire. Norfolk Fire Group develops comprehensive, evidence-based fire strategies and carries out fire engineering design for complex, large or non-standard buildings across Norfolk.
Our fire strategies are produced in accordance with BS 7974 and the PD 7974 series, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and the relevant Approved Documents of the Building Regulations — providing a single, coherent document that demonstrates how every fire safety measure in a building works together as an integrated whole.
Serving Norwich · Dereham · Kings Lynn · Swaffham · Great Yarmouth · Thetford · Wymondham · North Walsham · Downham Market · Attleborough · Fakenham · Sheringham · Cromer · Holt · Aylsham · Diss · Loddon · Bungay · All of Norfolk
What Is a Fire Strategy?
A fire strategy is a structured technical document that sets out the fire safety provisions for a building and demonstrates that those provisions achieve an acceptable level of life safety. It brings together every element of fire protection — detection, alarm, suppression, compartmentation, escape routes, smoke control, structural fire resistance and fire-fighting access — into a single, coherent design narrative.
For complex, multi-occupancy, high-rise or architecturally ambitious buildings, a prescriptive, code-compliant approach is often not enough. A properly developed fire strategy allows the design team to take a performance-based, fire-engineered approach — demonstrating to Building Control, the Fire and Rescue Service and the Responsible Person that the building achieves an equivalent or higher standard of safety.
A fire strategy is not a one-off document. It should be maintained throughout the life of the building and updated whenever the layout, use, occupancy or fire safety systems change, so that it continues to reflect the building as it actually is.
A fire strategy typically documents:
- Building occupancy classification and occupant load
- Means of escape and travel distance analysis
- Fire detection and alarm system category and coverage
- Fire compartmentation and structural fire resistance
- Smoke control and ventilation strategy
- Active fire suppression provisions
- Fire-fighter access and facilities
- External fire spread and boundary considerations
- Management and maintenance responsibilities
Standards & Frameworks We Work To
BS 7974
The principal British Standard for the application of fire safety engineering principles to the design of buildings. Provides the framework for a structured, performance-based approach to fire strategy development.
PD 7974 Series
Published Documents supporting BS 7974, covering ignition, spread, smoke, structural response, detection, suppression, evacuation and fire service intervention in detail.
RRFSO 2005
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 — the legislative framework governing fire safety in non-domestic premises in England and Wales, underpinning every strategy we produce.
Building Regulations Approved Document B
Fire safety provisions for new and altered buildings. Our strategies demonstrate compliance or equivalent performance against the functional requirements of Part B.
BS 9999:2017
Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings — a risk-profiled approach we use for many commercial and public buildings.
BS 9991:2024
Code of practice for fire safety in the design of residential buildings, including blocks of flats and HMOs — used alongside BS 9792 for residential fire strategies.
BS 5839-1:2025
Fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings — the code of practice our strategies reference for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of fire alarm systems in non-domestic premises.
BS 5266-1:2025
Emergency lighting of premises — the code of practice our strategies cite for the design, installation and provision of emergency escape lighting and standby lighting.
BS 8214:2026
Timber fire door assemblies — the code of practice our strategies reference for the specification, installation, inspection and maintenance of fire-resisting timber doorsets.
Fire Engineering Design
Where a building cannot follow the prescriptive guidance in Approved Document B or BS 9999 — because of its scale, layout, architectural intent or use — fire engineering design provides a legally accepted alternative. Using the framework of BS 7974, we develop quantified, evidence-based solutions that demonstrate an equivalent standard of life safety.
This includes travel distance trade-offs, extended escape routes protected by smoke control, open-plan residential layouts, atrium designs, large uncompartmented retail spaces, and complex multi-occupancy buildings. Every engineered solution is documented, justified and presented for approval to Building Control and the Fire and Rescue Service.
Smoke Control Modelling
Computational analysis of smoke production, layer height and tenability to justify extended escape times and protected shafts.
ASET / RSET Analysis
Comparing Available Safe Egress Time against Required Safe Egress Time to prove occupants can evacuate before conditions become untenable.
Compartmentation Trade-Offs
Justifying reduced or repositioned fire-resisting construction where active measures such as sprinklers or smoke control compensate.
Structural Fire Resistance
Performance-based assessment of structural fire protection in lieu of the standard tabulated periods.
Our Fire Strategy Services
Fire Strategy Development
Comprehensive fire strategy documents for new builds, conversions and existing buildings, produced in accordance with BS 7974 and BS 9999.
Fire Engineering Design
Performance-based, quantified engineering solutions where prescriptive guidance cannot be followed, fully justified and presented for approval.
Fire Strategy Reviews
Independent review of existing fire strategies to confirm they remain valid, reflect the building as built, and satisfy current legislation.
Building Regulation Compliance
Demonstration of compliance or equivalent performance against Approved Document B and the functional requirements of the Building Regulations.
Stakeholder Liaison
Coordination with architects, Building Control, the Fire and Rescue Service and the Responsible Person to secure agreement on the strategy.
Gap Analysis & Remediation
Identification of shortfalls between the fire strategy and the building as built, with a clear, prioritised remediation plan.
When Is a Fire Strategy Required?
A fire strategy is essential for any building where the fire safety provisions cannot be fully demonstrated through prescriptive guidance alone. This includes most complex, large or unusual buildings.
Even where a prescriptive approach is possible, a documented fire strategy provides the Responsible Person with a clear record of how the building is intended to perform in fire — invaluable for ongoing management, future alterations and regulatory audit.