his is not just a paperwork exercise — it fundamentally changes how fire safety must be managed.
1. Increased Accountability
You will now be responsible for ensuring that all occupants — including vulnerable individuals — can evacuate safely.
Failure to do so could lead to:
- Enforcement action
- Increased liability
- Reputational risk
2. Your Building Must Perform as Designed
Evacuation strategies rely heavily on the building’s passive fire protection measures working correctly.
This means:
- Fire compartmentation must be intact
- Fire doors must perform correctly
- Service penetrations must be properly sealed
Any failure in these areas could directly compromise evacuation plans.
3. Greater Demand for Evidence-Based Compliance
You will need clear, auditable proof that your building is safe and compliant, including:
- Compartmentation survey reports
- Fire door inspection records
- Fire risk assessments aligned with evacuation planning
- Digital records (the “golden thread”)
4. A More Proactive Approach to Fire Safety
Reactive maintenance will no longer be enough.
Instead, you’ll need:
- Ongoing inspection programmes
- Planned remedial works
- Clear documentation and reporting
