What Is a Building Control Fire Safety Review?

A building control fire safety review is the technical assessment of your building's fire safety design carried out by the building control body as part of the building regulations approval process. For most significant projects, this review is one of the most important hurdles in the development programme. Understanding how to prepare for it — and how to respond effectively when queries are raised — can significantly reduce delays.

Before Submission — Preparation

The most effective preparation for a building control fire safety review is to ensure that the fire strategy and supporting documents are comprehensive, coordinated and accurate before submission. Specifically:

• The fire strategy must be based on the current version of all drawings — use a drawing register in the report to document which revision each plan was based on
• Travel distances must be measured on the drawings and stated in the report — not estimated from descriptions
• Compartmentation must be shown on the architectural plans and sections with fire resistance periods annotated
• The fire door schedule must be complete — every fire door in the building listed with its required performance
• Structural fire protection must be coordinated with the structural engineer's specification
• Firefighting facilities must be confirmed as compliant with ADB requirements for the building height

During the Review — What to Expect

Building control bodies typically review fire strategies within 4 to 8 weeks of submission. Where queries are raised — which is common on complex projects — they are issued as a schedule of information requested (SIR) or similar formal document. Each query requires a substantive response from the fire engineer, either providing the requested information, confirming compliance, or proposing an alternative approach.

Responding to Queries Effectively

The most effective responses to building control fire safety queries are concise, specific and well-evidenced. Referring to specific drawing revisions, specific clauses in the applicable standards, and specific calculations or analysis avoids ambiguity and speeds up the review. Vague or general responses prompt further queries.

Where a query reveals a genuine design issue — a travel distance exceedance, a missing compartment wall — the response must include a design change and updated drawings, not just an explanation of why the issue does not matter. Building control bodies are not persuaded by arguments that non-compliances are acceptable without engineering evidence.

Pre-Submission Engagement

For complex projects, pre-submission engagement with the building control body is strongly recommended. A pre-application meeting with the building control surveyor allows the fire engineer to present the proposed approach, identify concerns, and agree the scope and format of the submission before it is formally submitted. This can significantly reduce the number of post-submission queries.