Difference Between Fire Risk Assessment and Fire Strategy

Understanding the difference between a fire risk assessment and a fire strategy is crucial for managers, landlords, developers, and Responsible Persons in the UK. Though both documents relate to fire safety, they serve very different purposes, apply at different stages of a building’s life cycle, and are governed by different legal frameworks.

What Is the Main Difference?

The main difference is that a fire strategy is a design-stage document prepared to demonstrate compliance with Building Regulations, whereas a fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for managing fire safety in an occupied building.

A fire strategy focuses on how the building is designed to resist and control fire. A fire risk assessment focuses on how the building is used and whether people are adequately protected.

What Is a Fire Risk Assessment?

A fire risk assessment (FRA) is a legally required evaluation of fire hazards, the likelihood of fire, and the adequacy of existing fire safety measures in an occupied building. The purpose is to identify and manage fire risk in the building as it is used day-to-day.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Responsible Person must carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment for most non-domestic properties and the common parts of residential buildings.

A fire risk assessment typically focuses on:

• Identifying fire hazards
• Assessing people at risk
• Evaluating existing safety measures
• Recommending corrective actions
• Recording significant findings and actions required

You must review and update a fire risk assessment regularly, especially after changes in layout, occupancy, or use.

What Is a Fire Strategy?

A fire strategy is a technical and design-focused document that defines how a building will achieve compliance with fire safety standards at the planning and construction stage. It sets out the fire safety principles that inform design decisions, passive fire protection measures, means of escape, and other engineered solutions.

In England, fire strategies are commonly developed to demonstrate compliance with the Building Regulations, particularly Approved Document B (Fire Safety), and to satisfy Building Control requirements.

A fire strategy is usually required:

• During building design (pre-construction)
• For major refurbishments or change of use
• When planning approval or Building Regulations compliance is needed

It is typically produced by fire engineers or specialist fire safety consultants and forms part of formal submissions to Building Control to demonstrate compliance with the Building Regulations.

Key elements often covered in a fire strategy include:

• Means of escape and evacuation strategy
• Compartmentation and fire resisting structures
• Fire detection, alarm, and suppression systems
• Fire service access
• Passive and active fire safety systems

A fire strategy may be updated as a “living document” if significant changes occur during design or after construction.

Fire Risk Assessment vs Fire Strategy — Side-by-Side Comparison

This comparison highlights that the two documents serve complementary but distinct roles in fire safety management

Design Stage vs Occupation Stage

A fire strategy is primarily concerned with the design and construction phase of a building’s life cycle. It explains how the building has been designed to achieve fire safety compliance.

A fire risk assessment applies once the building is occupied and in use. It evaluates whether the building continues to provide adequate protection for the people inside it.

Understanding this distinction helps clarify why both documents may be required at different stages.

How Fire Risk Assessments Link to Fire Strategy

A fire strategy establishes the fire safety design principles of a building. A fire risk assessment evaluates whether those principles are being maintained in practice.

In simple terms:

• The fire strategy explains how the building was designed to achieve fire safety compliance.
• The fire risk assessment checks whether the building is operating in line with that design.

For example:

• If a fire strategy specifies protected stairwells, the fire risk assessment checks they are not compromised.
• If the strategy relies on compartmentation, the fire risk assessment verifies fire doors and fire stopping remain effective.
• If evacuation strategy assumes simultaneous evacuation, the fire risk assessment ensures procedures support this.

In this way, the fire risk assessment becomes the operational expression of the fire strategy.

Do You Need Both?

In many projects and occupied premises, both documents are required — but at different stages:

• New buildings and major refurbishments usually require a fire strategy to satisfy building control and planning requirements.
• After occupation, a fire risk assessment must be carried out to manage real-world fire safety risks.

For existing buildings without an up-to-date strategy, a retrospective fire strategy can be developed to codify design intent and inform future risk assessments.

It is important to understand that having a fire strategy does not remove the legal duty to conduct a fire risk assessment once the building is occupied — they serve different regulatory purposes.

Why Understanding the Difference Matters

Confusing the two can lead to non-compliance, wasted expenditure, or unsafe conditions:

• Relying on a fire strategy alone will not fulfil legal requirements for occupied buildings.
• Treating a fire risk assessment as a design compliance document can leave structural and engineered elements without proper analysis.

Knowing which document is required — and when — ensures compliance, safety, and cost-effective fire risk management.

Common Misunderstandings

Some building owners assume that having a fire strategy removes the need for a fire risk assessment. This is incorrect. Once a building is occupied, the legal duty under the Fire Safety Order applies regardless of whether a fire strategy exists.

Similarly, a fire risk assessment cannot replace a fire strategy during design or building control approval, as it does not assess structural compliance with Building Regulations.

Who Is Responsible?

The Responsible Person under the Fire Safety Order must ensure that a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out. In contrast, the developer, architect, or building owner generally commissions the fire strategy as part of design and planning approvals.

Professional Support for Both Documents

Understanding the difference between a fire risk assessment and a fire strategy is essential — but ensuring they align correctly is equally important.

In practice, we often see buildings where the original fire strategy has not been properly reflected in the ongoing fire risk assessment, or where design intent has been lost over time. This can create compliance gaps.

At Fire Risk Assessment Network, we support clients with fire risk assessments while also interpreting and reviewing existing fire strategies to ensure that operational fire safety management reflects the building’s original design principles.

Conclusion

A fire risk assessment and a fire strategy are both vital components of fire safety management in the UK — but they serve very different purposes:

• A fire strategy sets the fire safety direction during design and construction.
• A fire risk assessment ensures that the building remains safe in everyday use.

For many buildings, particularly complex developments or multi-occupancy premises, both documents are required at different stages of the building’s life cycle. Knowing the difference helps you comply with legislation, manage risk, and protect people and property.

At Fire Risk Assessment Network, we can help you understand which documents you need and provide expert support in both risk assessment and strategy interpretation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the legal requirement for a fire risk assessment?

A fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for most non-domestic premises under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Is a fire strategy legally required for all buildings?

A fire strategy is usually required for building design and construction compliance with Building Regulations, but not for all existing premises.

Can a fire strategy replace a fire risk assessment?

No — a fire strategy does not replace the legal duty to carry out a fire risk assessment in occupied buildings.

Who typically produces a fire strategy?

Fire engineers or specialist fire safety consultants produce fire strategies, especially for new builds or major refurbishments.