RIBA Stage Fire Safety Engineers

Whether you are undertaking a new-build project or a refurbishment, fire safety must be considered and coordinated throughout every stage of design, planning, construction, and occupation.

Fire safety engineering input at the correct points within the RIBA Plan of Work helps ensure that buildings are safe, compliant, and deliverable — avoiding late-stage design changes, regulatory delays, or costly remediation.

We provide fire engineering consultancy support aligned to all RIBA stages, working closely with architects, designers, developers, and dutyholders to ensure fire safety is embedded from concept through to handover and use.

During the design and construction process, our fire engineers deliver proportionate, risk-based fire safety strategies that align with Building Regulations Approved Document B, relevant British Standards, and the evolving post-Grenfell regulatory landscape.

What Is the RIBA Plan of Work for Fire Safety?

Following the Grenfell Tower fire, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) recognised the need for clearer accountability and stronger fire safety integration throughout the building lifecycle.

In September 2018, RIBA initiated consultation on a Plan of Work for Fire Safety, designed to clarify roles, responsibilities, and expected fire safety outputs at each project stage.

The RIBA Plan of Work for Fire Safety provides a best-practice process map that supports:

• Early identification of fire safety risks
• Better coordination between design disciplines
• Clearer handover of fire safety information
• Improved outcomes for building owners and occupants

Fire safety engineers play a critical role in this process by ensuring that fire strategies, assumptions, and design decisions remain consistent and achievable as projects progress.

The Plan of Work also aligns with recommendations from the Hackitt Review, reinforcing the need for structured review, documentation, and sign-off of fire safety decisions.

How Fire Engineers Support Each RIBA Stage

Below is an overview of the RIBA Plan of Work stages, with specific reference to the role of the fire safety engineer at each stage.

Strategic Definition (Stage 0)

This initial stage focuses on defining the project’s business case, objectives, and constraints.

Fire engineer involvement at this stage may include:

• Establishing high-level fire safety objectives
• Identifying potential fire safety constraints affecting site viability
• Flagging regulatory or building height/use issues at an early stage
• Advising on likely fire strategy approach and complexity

Early fire engineering input helps prevent fundamental conflicts later in the project.

Preparation and Briefing (Stage 1)

During preparation and briefing, the project brief is developed in detail.

Fire engineer involvement typically includes:

• Contributing to the fire safety brief
• Advising on escape strategies, building use, and occupancy profiles
• Identifying information required to support future fire strategy development
• Supporting feasibility studies and option appraisals from a fire safety perspective

This stage ensures that fire safety requirements are embedded within the project brief, not added later.

Concept Design (Stage 2)

Once the brief is established, concept design begins.

Fire engineer involvement at this stage includes:

• Developing the outline fire strategy
• Advising on means of escape, compartmentation, and fire-fighting access
• Reviewing initial layouts for compliance risks
• Liaising with the wider design team to resolve fire safety constraints

At this stage, fire safety decisions strongly influence layout, massing, and circulation.

Spatial Coordination (Stage 3)

Spatial coordination tests whether the design can be built as intended.

Fire engineer involvement typically includes:

• Reviewing coordinated layouts against the fire strategy
• Ensuring escape routes, shafts, and compartments remain viable
• Identifying clashes between fire safety measures and other building systems
• Updating fire strategy assumptions as designs evolve

This stage is critical for ensuring that fire safety is not compromised during coordination.

Technical Design (Stage 4)

Technical design finalises the detail required for construction.

Fire engineer responsibilities at this stage may include:

• Reviewing detailed fire safety drawings
• Coordinating compartmentation, fire stopping, and system specifications
• Supporting Building Control submissions and approvals
• Updating the fire strategy to reflect technical detail

This ensures that fire safety measures are buildable, compliant, and coordinated.

Manufacturing and Construction (Stage 5)

During construction, the focus shifts to implementation.

Fire engineer involvement may include:

• Responding to site queries and design changes
• Reviewing contractor proposals affecting fire safety
• Updating fire strategy documents as required
• Supporting inspections, commissioning, and compliance checks

Fire engineering oversight helps maintain alignment between design intent and construction reality.

Handover (Stage 6)

Handover marks the transition from construction to occupation.

Fire engineer involvement includes:

• Finalising the fire strategy report
• Supporting the preparation of handover fire safety information
• Ensuring key fire safety assumptions are communicated to the Responsible Person
• Assisting with Building Control close-out

This stage is critical for ensuring that fire safety responsibilities are clearly transferred.

Use (Stage 7)

Although design teams often have limited involvement post-handover, clients may require ongoing support.

Fire engineers can assist with:

• Post-occupancy fire safety advice
• Reviewing changes to building use or layout
• Supporting fire risk assessments and management arrangements
• Advising on future refurbishment or alteration impacts

RIBA Plan of Work Structure Changes

What Is Included in the Scope of Works for a Fire Engineer?

The role of a fire engineer is to provide independent, competent advice on all aspects of fire safety design.

This ensures that the building:

• Meets legal and regulatory requirements
• Achieves an acceptable level of fire safety
• Remains practical and cost-effective to construct and manage

Typical fire engineering scope includes:

• Defining fire safety design objectives
• Developing and maintaining the fire strategy report
• Reviewing architectural and engineering designs
• Producing or reviewing fire safety drawings
• Advising on fire systems and specifications
• Supporting approvals and consultations
• Coordinating fire compartmentation requirements
• Providing handover and operational fire safety information

Fire engineering input should remain continuous and proportionate across the RIBA stages.

Conclusion

The RIBA Plan of Work provides a clear framework for managing projects — but fire safety outcomes depend on competent fire engineering involvement at the right stages.

Early, coordinated fire engineering support helps reduce risk, improve compliance, and deliver buildings that are safe, functional, and future-proof.

Our fire engineering consultants support projects across all RIBA stages, working collaboratively with design teams and dutyholders to ensure fire safety is properly integrated from concept to occupation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RIBA Plan of Work for Fire Safety?

The RIBA Plan of Work for Fire Safety is a best-practice framework developed to clarify fire safety roles, responsibilities, and expected outputs at each stage of a construction project, from early design through to occupation.

At what RIBA stage should a fire engineer be appointed?

A fire engineer should ideally be appointed at the Strategic Definition or Preparation and Briefing stages. Early involvement helps identify constraints, inform layout decisions, and avoid costly redesign later in the project.

What does a fire engineer do during the concept design stage?

During concept design, a fire engineer typically develops the outline fire strategy, advises on means of escape and compartmentation, and reviews early layouts to identify potential compliance or safety risks.

Is a fire strategy required at every RIBA stage?

The fire strategy evolves across the RIBA stages. It may begin as a high-level concept at early stages and is progressively developed, reviewed, and updated through spatial coordination, technical design, construction, and handover.

How does fire engineering support Building Regulations compliance?

Fire engineers help ensure compliance with Building Regulations Approved Document B by assessing fire risks, developing compliant design solutions, and supporting Building Control submissions and approvals.

What fire safety information is required at handover?

At handover, key fire safety information includes the final fire strategy report, fire safety drawings, system specifications, and clear documentation for the Responsible Person outlining how the building’s fire safety measures are intended to operate.

Can a fire engineer provide support after the building is occupied?

Yes. Fire engineers can provide post-occupancy support, including advice on changes to building use, future refurbishments, and coordination with fire risk assessments and ongoing fire safety management.