Construction Fire Safety

Construction fire safety in Southport.

Specialist fire safety support for the construction sector. From CDM duty-holder support and construction phase fire risk assessments to pre-occupation surveys and higher-risk building compliance under the Building Safety Act 2022.

CDM duty-holder support
Pre-occupation surveys
Building Safety Act 2022

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The CDM regime

CDM duty-holder support

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 place specific fire safety duties on every duty holder: clients, principal designers, principal contractors, designers and contractors.

Fire safety must be considered from the earliest stages of design, not treated as an afterthought during construction. The principal designer is responsible for identifying and controlling fire safety risks during the pre-construction phase, while the principal contractor manages fire safety on site, including construction phase fire risk assessments reviewed as the project develops.

We work as a specialist fire safety advisor to duty holders at every stage: supporting the principal designer in identifying design-stage risks, helping principal contractors develop and implement their construction phase fire safety plans and advising on the arrangements required throughout the construction and fit-out phases.

Duty-holder services

Client support
Advising clients on their CDM fire safety obligations and ensuring fire safety is properly addressed from project inception.
Principal designer support
Design-stage fire safety review, identification of fire safety risks in the design and production of pre-construction information.
Principal contractor support
Construction phase fire risk assessments, fire safety plan development, site audits and management-system documentation.
Designer review
Independent review of fire safety design elements for completeness and compliance with the Building Regulations 2010.
Sub-contractor briefing
Fire safety induction and briefing for site teams so all workers understand site-specific fire safety arrangements.

Before occupation

Pre-occupation fire risk assessments for new buildings

Before a new building can be occupied, the Responsible Person must ensure a fire risk assessment is in place: PAS 79-1:2020 for commercial buildings, BS 9792:2025 for new residential buildings including purpose-built blocks of flats.

A pre-occupation assessment differs significantly from a standard assessment of an existing premises. It must consider the as-built condition, verifying that the fire safety provisions designed into the building have actually been installed correctly and establish the management framework that will govern the building once occupied.

We assess at practical completion, working from the fire strategy, as-built drawings and O&M manuals to reflect the building as constructed. Where deficiencies are found, we work with the principal contractor to resolve them before occupation.

Assessment scope

Verification of fire safety installations against the fire strategy
Fire detection and alarm system commissioning review
Emergency lighting and signage installation check
Fire door survey: gaps, seals, closers, certification
Compartmentation and fire stopping visual inspection
External wall construction and cladding review
Fire-fighting equipment provision and location
Fire safety management framework establishment
Means of escape routes and assembly point assessment
Written pre-occupation fire risk assessment report

For completed buildings

Retrospective fire strategies

Where a building has been completed without a formal fire strategy or the original has been lost or no longer reflects the as-built condition, a retrospective strategy is required, also for regularisation applications where works were carried out without the necessary Building Regulations consent.

A retrospective strategy examines the existing building, from construction methods and installed systems to current use and management and produces a document that accurately describes its fire safety approach. Where the building does not comply with the Building Regulations 2010, the strategy identifies the departures and either justifies them through a fire engineering rationale or sets out the remedial works required.

We produce strategies for everything from domestic conversions and small commercial premises to complex mixed-use developments and residential blocks, developed by our fire safety engineers against the applicable standards.

When it is needed

No original fire strategy document available
Building completed without Building Regulations consent
Regularisation application to building control
Planning authority requires fire safety documentation
As-built condition differs significantly from approved design
Purchaser or lender requires fire strategy due diligence

Standards applied

BS 9999:2017BS 9991:2024Approved Document B

Building Safety Act 2022

Higher-risk building compliance

For buildings at least 18 metres high or with at least 7 storeys and two or more residential units, we support clients across the full HRB compliance lifecycle.

01
Gateway 2: design stage
Before construction begins on an HRB, a Building Control application must be submitted to and approved by the Building Safety Regulator. We support principal designers in preparing the fire safety documentation required for the Gateway 2 submission.
02
Gateway 3: completion
Before an HRB can be occupied, the principal contractor must submit a completion certificate application including detailed fire safety documentation. We compile this and carry out the pre-occupation fire risk assessment required at Gateway 3.
03
Golden thread documentation
The Act requires a golden thread of key fire and structural safety information to be created and maintained throughout the life of an HRB. We help clients establish and structure their golden thread from the design stage.
04
Safety case development
Accountable persons of occupied HRBs must produce a Safety Case showing how fire and structural risks are managed. We provide specialist input including fire risk assessment, compartmentation surveys and fire stopping reviews.
05
Building Safety Regulator interface
We support engagement with the Building Safety Regulator, preparing submission documentation, responding to queries and representing the client's position in technical fire safety discussions.
06
Occupied building compliance
For registered HRBs, we carry out the fire risk assessments, compartmentation surveys and fire stopping surveys required to maintain the safety case and demonstrate ongoing compliance.

Clients

Who we work with

Specialist support tailored to each role across the construction and building-safety lifecycle.

Principal contractors

Construction phase fire risk assessments, site fire safety plans and pre-occupation surveys so buildings are handed over in a compliant, assessed condition.

Principal designers

Design-stage fire safety review and CDM pre-construction information support, addressing fire safety risks from the earliest stage of the project.

Developers

End-to-end support from planning and design through construction, practical completion and first occupation, including HRB compliance for eligible projects.

Architects

Fire strategy development, Building Regulations compliance support and pre-application consultation with building control and fire authorities.

Building owners

Retrospective fire strategies, pre-purchase due diligence and Building Safety Act 2022 compliance for existing or recently completed buildings.

Accountable persons (HRBs)

Safety case development, golden thread documentation, fire risk assessments and Building Safety Regulator submission support for registered higher-risk buildings.

Why Southport Fire Risk Assessment

From first design to safety case

Construction sector experience

Our engineers and assessors work extensively within construction, understanding the practical realities of managing fire safety on live sites and within complex development programmes.

Building Safety Act specialists

We have invested significantly in the Building Safety Act 2022 and its new regime for higher-risk buildings, staying current with the latest Building Safety Regulator guidance.

Complete documentation

We produce the full suite of documentation principal contractors, developers and accountable persons need, from construction phase plans to golden thread and safety cases.

Free, no-obligation quote