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.
Quick Answer
Fire safety engineers can support projects throughout the RIBA Plan of Work, from early design advice and planning fire statements through to fire strategy reports, building control information, construction review, handover and occupation. Early input helps avoid late design changes, regulatory delays and fire safety issues that become expensive to fix later.
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.
Why Fire Engineering Input Matters During Design
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
Fire Safety Engineering Support by RIBA Stage
| RIBA Stage | Fire Safety Input |
|---|---|
| Stage 0-1: Strategic Definition and Preparation | Early fire safety constraints, site risks, occupancy assumptions, design brief input and strategy scope. |
| Stage 2: Concept Design | Initial escape strategy, compartmentation principles, fire service access, firefighting facilities and planning fire safety considerations. |
| Stage 3: Spatial Coordination | Developed fire strategy, coordination with architecture, structure, MEP, facade, smoke control and accessibility requirements. |
| Stage 4: Technical Design | Detailed fire strategy report, building control support, fire safety drawings, specification review and construction information. |
| Stage 5: Manufacturing and Construction | Design change review, site queries, fire stopping interfaces, compartmentation, product substitutions and fire strategy compliance checks. |
| Stage 6-7: Handover and Use | Fire safety information, handover documents, Regulation 38 information, occupation support and links to fire risk assessment. |
Need Fire Safety Engineering Input on a Project?
Fire Risk Assessment Network can help arrange fire safety engineering support for design teams, developers, architects, landlords and building owners across RIBA stages.
Why Fire Safety Should Be Considered Early
Fire safety decisions affect layout, staircases, travel distances, compartmentation, facade design, smoke control, fire alarm systems, firefighting access and the future management of the building. If these issues are left until late design or construction, the project may face redesign, delays or expensive remedial work.
The RIBA Plan of Work recognises fire safety strategy as a core project strategy. Fire safety input should therefore be coordinated with the wider design team rather than treated as a late compliance exercise.
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.
RIBA Stages and Fire Strategy Reports
A fire strategy usually develops as the design develops. Early stages may set out principles and assumptions; later stages should provide more detailed design information suitable for coordination, building control review, construction and handover.
For more detail, see our guides to fire strategy reports, what a fire strategy report includes and fire engineering consultants.
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
At what RIBA stage should a fire engineer be appointed?
Fire engineering input is often most valuable from RIBA Stage 1 or Stage 2, especially for complex buildings, residential blocks, mixed-use schemes, change of use projects and designs where fire strategy decisions affect layout or viability.
What does a fire engineer do at RIBA Stage 2?
At concept design stage, a fire engineer may advise on escape strategy, staircases, compartmentation, firefighting access, fire service requirements, smoke control principles and early fire safety constraints.
What does a fire engineer do at RIBA Stage 4?
At technical design stage, fire engineering input may include a detailed fire strategy report, fire safety drawings, building control support, specification review and coordination with architecture, structure and building services.
Does fire safety input continue after design?
Yes. Fire safety input may be needed during construction, handover and occupation, particularly where design changes, substitutions, compartmentation issues or Regulation 38 fire safety information need review.
Can Fire Risk Assessment Network support RIBA stage projects?
Yes. Fire Risk Assessment Network can help arrange fire safety engineering and fire strategy support for projects across RIBA stages, from early design advice through to handover and occupation.
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