Fire Protection Consultants

Fire protection consultants provide professional, independent advice to help organisations understand, manage, and reduce fire risk in line with UK fire safety legislation. Their role is to support duty holders in meeting legal obligations, protecting life, and ensuring that fire safety measures are proportionate, effective, and properly maintained.

At Fire Risk Assessment Network, our fire protection consultancy services support employers, building owners, landlords, and managing agents across the UK. We provide clear, evidence-based fire safety advice covering both passive and active fire protection, fire risk assessment, and compliance with current fire safety law.

Fire protection consultancy is typically required where fire risk is complex, where buildings are higher risk or multi-occupied, or where independent specialist advice is needed to support compliance decisions. This includes situations involving enforcement action, refurbishment, external wall concerns, or uncertainty around existing fire safety arrangements.

Our consultancy approach focuses on risk, competence, and practical solutions — not unnecessary systems or generic recommendations.

What Does a Fire Protection Consultant Do?

A fire protection consultant provides specialist advice on how fire risk should be managed within a building or organisation. This includes reviewing fire safety arrangements, assessing building features, and advising on suitable control measures in line with legislation, guidance, and recognised standards.

Fire protection consultants typically support clients with:

• Fire risk assessment and review
• Passive fire protection advice and surveys
• Active fire protection system advice
• Fire safety compliance strategy
• Interpretation of fire safety legislation
• Support following audits, inspections, or incidents

Consultants do not replace enforcing authorities or installers — their role is advisory, independent, and risk-based.

Fire Protection Consultant vs Fire Engineer vs Fire Risk Assessor

Fire protection consultants provide independent, advisory support focused on risk management, compliance, and proportional decision-making.

While there is overlap between roles, a consultant typically supports strategy, interpretation, and governance rather than system design or installation.

Fire engineers may undertake detailed engineering analysis or specialist appraisals, while fire risk assessors carry out formal fire risk assessments required by law. Fire protection consultancy often sits between these roles, helping duty holders understand findings, determine next steps, and implement appropriate controls.

Fire Protection Consultancy and UK Fire Safety Law

Fire protection consultancy in the UK is shaped by a clear legislative framework.

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places legal responsibility for fire safety on the Responsible Person. This includes duties to:

• Carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment
• Implement appropriate fire precautions
• Maintain fire safety systems and measures
• Review and update fire safety arrangements

Fire protection consultants support Responsible Persons by assessing whether existing measures are suitable, proportionate, and compliant.

Fire Safety Act 2021

The Fire Safety Act 2021 clarified that fire risk assessments must consider the structure and external walls of multi-occupied residential buildings, including cladding, insulation, balconies, and fixings.

Fire protection consultants now play a key role in advising on external wall fire risk, passive fire protection, and the interface between building design and fire safety management.

Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 introduced additional duties for certain higher-risk residential buildings, including:

• Provision of fire safety information
• Fire door checks
• Wayfinding signage
• Secure storage of building information

Consultants help duty holders understand whether these regulations apply and how to demonstrate compliance.

Passive Fire Protection Consultancy

Passive fire protection (PFP) refers to the built-in fire-resisting features of a building designed to limit the spread of fire, smoke, and heat.

Fire protection consultants advise on:

• Compartmentation and fire-resisting construction
• Fire doors and fire-stopping performance
• Fire dampers and service penetrations
• Structural fire protection measures
• Maintenance and inspection regimes

Passive fire protection is critical to life safety and evacuation and is a frequent focus of enforcement action where defects are identified. Enforcement action frequently arises where compartmentation has been compromised by alterations, poor installation, or inadequate inspection and maintenance.

Consultancy advice is often supported by passive fire protection surveys or targeted inspections where risk is elevated.

This may include detailed fire stopping surveys to identify breaches in fire-resisting barriers caused by services or building alterations.

Active Fire Protection Consultancy

Active fire protection (AFP) includes systems that respond to fire, either automatically or manually.

• Fire protection consultants provide advice on:
• Fire detection and alarm system strategy
• Emergency lighting provision
• Fire extinguishers and first-aid firefighting equipment
• Sprinkler and suppression system suitability
• Integration with evacuation and fire strategy

Rather than specifying products, consultancy focuses on whether systems are appropriate for the building’s risk profile and use, and whether they align with relevant British Standards and guidance. This ensures advice remains objective and focused on risk rather than product selection or installation.

Fire Alarm and Fire Safety System Advice

Many organisations seek fire protection consultancy specifically for fire alarm and life safety systems.

Consultants may support with:

• Reviewing existing fire alarm system design
• Advising on system category and coverage
• Assessing compliance with current standards
• Supporting upgrades or alterations
• Advising following false alarm issues or enforcement

This advisory role helps ensure systems are proportionate, effective, and defensible.

Fire protection consultants may also advise on fire alarm system design and compliance, ensuring detection and warning systems align with building risk and occupancy.

Fire protection consultancy is often sought at key decision points where risk, responsibility, or regulatory scrutiny increases.

When Is Fire Protection Consultancy Needed?

Fire protection consultancy is commonly required where:

• A fire risk assessment identifies significant issues
• Buildings are complex, higher-risk, or multi-occupied
• Enforcement action or audits have occurred
• Refurbishment or change of use is planned
• External wall or compartmentation concerns exist
• Fire safety responsibilities are unclear

Early consultancy support often prevents unnecessary cost, delay, or escalation.

In buildings where façade construction may influence fire spread, consultants may recommend further assessment of external wall and cladding fire risk, including specialist appraisal where appropriate.

How Fire Protection Consultants Support Risk Management

Fire protection consultants do not replace fire risk assessments, but they add value by:

• Interpreting risk in context
• Advising on proportionate controls
• Identifying gaps between policy and practice
• Supporting compliance documentation
• Helping duty holders make informed decisions

This approach supports both legal compliance and practical safety.

Why Choose Fire Risk Assessment Network?

Our fire protection consultancy services are:

• Delivered by competent, experienced professionals
• Aligned with current UK fire safety legislation
• Risk-based and proportionate
• Supported by clear, practical reporting
• Integrated with wider fire safety services

We focus on clarity, compliance, and defensible decision-making.

Conclusion

Fire protection consultants play a vital role in helping organisations understand and manage fire risk in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. By providing independent, evidence-based advice, consultancy supports compliance with fire safety law while ensuring that fire protection measures are appropriate, effective, and sustainable.

At Fire Risk Assessment Network, our fire protection consultancy services help duty holders meet their legal responsibilities, improve safety outcomes, and manage fire risk with confidence.

If you require professional fire protection advice or support, our team can provide clear, practical guidance tailored to your premises and responsibilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Fire Protection Consultant?

A fire protection consultant is a competent professional who provides independent advice on managing fire risk in buildings. This includes advising on fire risk assessments, passive and active fire protection measures, and compliance with UK fire safety legislation.

What Is the Difference Between a Fire Protection Consultant and a Fire Risk Assessor?

A fire risk assessor focuses on identifying and evaluating fire risks through a formal fire risk assessment. A fire protection consultant provides broader advisory support, helping duty holders interpret risks, plan remedial actions, and ensure fire safety measures are proportionate and compliant.

When Should a Fire Protection Consultant Be Appointed?

A fire protection consultant is often appointed where buildings are complex or higher risk, where enforcement action has occurred, during refurbishment or change of use, or where specialist advice is needed to support compliance with fire safety law.

Do Fire Protection Consultants Install Fire Safety Systems?

No. Fire protection consultants provide independent advice and assessments. They do not install fire safety systems, which helps ensure their recommendations remain objective and risk-based rather than product-driven.

How Does Fire Protection Consultancy Support Legal Compliance?

Fire protection consultants help Responsible Persons meet their duties under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 by reviewing fire safety arrangements, advising on suitable precautions, and identifying gaps in compliance or management.

Is Fire Protection Consultancy Required by Law?

Fire protection consultancy is not explicitly required by law. However, where fire risks are complex or significant, appointing a competent consultant is often necessary to demonstrate that fire safety duties have been met appropriately.

Can a Fire Protection Consultant Advise on Fire Alarm Systems?

Yes. Fire protection consultants can review fire alarm system strategy, advise on suitability and coverage, and support compliance with recognised standards without acting as system installers.

Who Typically Uses Fire Protection Consultancy Services?

Fire protection consultancy services are commonly used by employers, building owners, landlords, managing agents, housing providers, and organisations responsible for non-domestic premises or residential common parts.