Fire Strategy vs Fire Risk Assessment: What's the Difference?

Two Different Documents, Two Different Purposes

Fire strategy reports and fire risk assessments are frequently confused — even by experienced construction professionals. They are fundamentally different documents produced at different stages of a building's life, by different people, under different legislative frameworks. Both are important. Neither is a substitute for the other.

What Is a Fire Strategy Report?

A fire strategy report is a design document. It is produced during the design and construction phase of a building project, typically between RIBA Stage 2 and Stage 5. It is prepared by a chartered fire engineer and addresses how the building, as designed, will meet fire safety requirements under Part B of the Building Regulations, BS 9991, BS 9999, or other applicable codes.

The fire strategy report informs every aspect of the building's physical design: the configuration of escape routes, the specification of fire doors, the requirements for sprinklers and smoke control, the fire resistance periods of structural elements, and the design of firefighting facilities. It is submitted to building control — and for higher-risk buildings, to the Building Safety Regulator — as the primary fire engineering evidence.

What Is a Fire Risk Assessment?

A fire risk assessment is a management document. It is produced for occupied buildings under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO). It is required for all non-domestic premises and the common parts of residential buildings. The responsible person — typically the employer, building owner, or managing agent — must ensure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is carried out and reviewed regularly.

A fire risk assessment examines the building as it is actually used and managed. It identifies fire hazards, evaluates the risk to people in and around the building, and records the fire precautions in place. It concludes with an action plan identifying measures needed to reduce risk to an acceptable level.

Key Differences at a Glance

• Stage — Fire strategy: design and construction. Fire risk assessment: occupation and ongoing management
• Who produces it — Fire strategy: chartered fire engineer. Fire risk assessment: competent person (may be the responsible person or a specialist assessor)
• Legislative basis — Fire strategy: Building Regulations (Part B), Building Safety Act 2022. Fire risk assessment: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• What it addresses — Fire strategy: physical design of fire safety systems. Fire risk assessment: management of fire risk in an occupied building
• Who receives it — Fire strategy: building control body, BSR, design team. Fire risk assessment: responsible person, enforcing authority (Fire and Rescue Service)
• Review frequency — Fire strategy: updated at key design stages and at Gateway 3. Fire risk assessment: reviewed annually or when significant changes occur

Can One Document Serve Both Purposes?

No. A fire strategy report cannot replace a fire risk assessment, and a fire risk assessment cannot replace a fire strategy report. They serve entirely different regulatory purposes, are produced under different legislation, and are used by different parties. Some consultants produce both types of document, but they must remain distinct.

Which Do You Need?

If you are designing, developing or constructing a building — you need a fire strategy report. If you are operating, managing or occupying a building — you need a fire risk assessment. If you are doing both, you need both.