Fire Strategy for Building Control London | Fire Safety ServicesWhat building control bodies require from a fire strategy in London
Building control requires a fire strategy as part of the building regulations submission for any new-build, conversion, or significant refurbishment in London. The fire strategy is the document that demonstrates how the proposed building design achieves compliance with the functional requirements of Approved Document B — the statutory guidance on fire safety in buildings. It covers means of escape, compartmentation, structural fire protection, fire detection and alarm, smoke control, and firefighting facilities. Building control bodies review the fire strategy as part of their assessment of whether the building regulations will be met by the proposed design.
For higher-risk buildings in London — those above 18 metres or with more than 6 storeys of residential accommodation — the Building Safety Act 2022 requires a Gateway 2 submission to the Building Safety Regulator before work can commence on site. Gateway 2 is the most detailed of the three gateways and requires a full fire strategy demonstrating that the design meets the building regulations requirements. The Building Safety Regulator will assess the fire strategy and may request changes before granting approval. Work cannot begin on site until Gateway 2 approval is received, which means the quality and completeness of the fire strategy directly affects the construction programme.
In London, building control can be carried out by the local authority building control team or by an approved inspector (now a registered building control approver under the Building Safety Act). For higher-risk buildings, only the Building Safety Regulator can act as the building control authority. At Fire Safety Services, we are experienced in producing fire strategy reports for all building control routes in London — local authority, registered building control approver, and the Building Safety Regulator — and tailor the content and format of the fire strategy to the specific requirements of the relevant body.
