Retrospective Fire Strategies

A fire strategy is one of the most important documents a building can have, yet many existing properties, particularly older ones, have never had one. If your building was constructed or converted without a formal fire strategy, a retrospective fire strategy could be exactly what you need.

At Aries Fire Safety, we develop bespoke retrospective fire strategies for a wide range of buildings. It’s a service we find particularly valuable for heritage and historic properties, but it is equally relevant to any existing building where the fire strategy has not kept pace with changes in use, ownership, or legislation.

A fire strategy is a comprehensive document that describes how a building is designed, managed, and operated to minimise the risk of fire and protect people in the event of one. It sets out the fire safety philosophy for the building, explains the design assumptions behind its fire safety systems, and provides a framework for ongoing management.

For new buildings, a fire strategy is produced at the design stage and submitted as part of the building regulations process. For existing buildings without one, a retrospective fire strategy serves the same purpose — it documents the current position and identifies any gaps or areas for improvement.

A retrospective fire strategy can be valuable in a number of situations:

• Your building has changed use or been extended and the fire safety approach has not been formally reviewed
• You are applying for listed building consent or planning permission and need to demonstrate how fire safety will be managed
• Your insurer or a regulatory body has asked for a formal fire strategy
• You have taken over management of a building and want to understand its fire safety baseline
• You are undertaking a programme of refurbishment and want to ensure fire safety is properly considered throughout

You simply want a clear, authoritative document that sets out how fire safety is managed in your building

We have produced retrospective fire strategies for a wide variety of buildings, with a particular concentration in the heritage and historic sector. We understand the specific constraints and considerations that apply to listed buildings and conservation areas, and we are experienced in producing strategies that satisfy both fire safety and heritage requirements.

If you think a retrospective fire strategy might be right for your building, we’d be delighted to discuss it.