Fire risk assessment Fire door inspection Compartmentation Fire strategy Evacuation plans Awareness training Fire warden training HMO assessment Nominated person Policy and procedures Health and safety Equipment testing
Fire Safety Services in Reigate: Checks and Training
Redhill Horley Tadworth Burgh Heath South Merstham
Areas covered
Responsible person Arranging assessment Review frequency 2022 regulations Council letter Flats above shops Student housing Christmas checks Advice All articles
Guides
About The process

Fire strategy

Fire strategy in Reigate

A written fire strategy sets out how a building manages escape routes, evacuation approach, separation and fire service access. Find out what the document covers, when it is needed during design, and how the specialist firm produces it for sites in Reigate.

Arrange an assessment

Two people reviewing a floor plan and fire safety documents at a table

When a building plan needs a fire strategy

Planning applications for new builds or changes of use require a written record showing how fire safety has been considered. A fire strategy report in Surrey addresses this. Without one, the application stalls or faces conditions that delay construction.

  1. 1

    Change of use application

    Converting offices to flats or adding retail space means building control expects a documented approach to fire safety before approving plans.

    Hi-vis inspector checking fire door gap with gauge and clipboard on floor
  2. 2

    Mixed-use development

    Combining residential and commercial spaces requires clear separation between uses so a fire in one area does not spread to another.

    Technician kneeling to inspect a fire door hinge in a corridor
  3. 3

    Large or complex layout

    Buildings with long corridors, multiple floors or unusual shapes need calculated travel distances to ensure occupants can reach an exit safely.

    Technician using thermal imaging camera near fire extinguishers in a utility room
  4. 4

    Building control request

    The local authority or approved inspector asks for a building control fire statement in Reigate before they will sign off the design stage.

    Fire risk checklist on a table while a worker checks a smoke alarm in a corridor

How the specialist firm writes the strategy

The work follows the design stages, starting early so the architect can incorporate the findings into the drawings without reworking them later.

  1. Illuminated green exit sign and red alarm in an indoor corridor

    Reviewing the brief

    The specialist reads the architectural drawings and planning constraints to understand the building's intended use and occupancy.

  2. Two inspectors examining a fire door hinge with one holding a clipboard

    Drafting the document

    Calculations for travel distances, compartment sizes and fire service access are set out alongside the chosen evacuation approach.

  3. Inspector measuring fire door frame near a fire exit sign, face blurred

    Liaising with building control

    The draft is discussed with the inspector to confirm it meets their requirements before the final version is issued.

  4. Two workers inspecting a fire door in a hallway with a thermal camera

    Issuing the final report

    A completed document is provided for submission with the planning or building control application.

What it covers

Elements of a fire strategy in Reigate

Worker with clipboard standing by an open door near a fire alarm panel.
Close-up of a firetruck's open compartments with hoses and tools
Row of terraced buildings under a cloudy sky at dusk

Escape route design

Travel distances are measured against approved limits. The specialist calculates how far any occupant must walk to reach a protected stairway or final exit, adjusting the floor plan if distances exceed guidance.

Worker kneeling by a fire extinguisher with a tablet and clipboard

Evacuation approach

The strategy states whether the building uses simultaneous evacuation or a stay-put policy. This decision depends on the level of compartmentation and the type of occupancy, such as residential flats versus a care home.

Two workers in overalls reviewing building plans on a table

Compartmentation and separation

Fire-resisting walls and floors are specified to contain a blaze within its area of origin. The specialist defines the required fire resistance period for each separating element based on building height and use.

Worker kneeling to inspect a fire door with a toolbox nearby

Fire service access

Vehicle turning circles, hardstanding for appliances and rising mains are plotted on the site plan. Water supplies must be adequate for the building size and located where crews can reach them quickly.

Worker holding a tablet near fire safety equipment and first-aid kit

Fire engineering advice

Where standard guidance does not fit the design, fire engineering advice in Reigate provides alternative solutions backed by calculation, such as smoke modelling for atria or extended travel distances in open-plan layouts.

Questions about fire strategies

Need one for change of use?
Yes. A change of use application in Reigate typically requires a written strategy because the new occupancy alters the fire risk profile, escape needs and structural fire resistance requirements.
When to produce it
The strategy should be drafted at RIBA Stage 2 or 3. Producing it early allows the architect to incorporate escape route design in Surrey into the layout before detailed drawings begin.
Will building control accept it?
Acceptance depends on the content meeting approved documents or British standards. The specialist discusses the draft with the inspector beforehand to resolve objections before formal submission.
Cost for a small mixed-use scheme
Fees depend on the building's size, complexity and number of revisions expected. Enquire with details of the scheme to receive a specific figure rather than relying on generic estimates.
Reviewing an existing strategy
A specialist can review a previous document to check it still reflects the current building layout and regulations. This is common when a building changes hands or undergoes refurbishment.
Nearby areas covered
The same principles apply to a fire strategy for a new development in Redhill or neighbouring towns. The specialist works across the region, applying local knowledge of planning expectations.

Areas covered around Reigate

Enquiries are taken for buildings in Reigate and the surrounding towns. The specialist firm travels to sites across the area to assess designs and discuss requirements with architects and developers directly.

If your town is not listed, send an enquiry to check availability.

Send details of your building project

Describe the development and its location. The enquiry goes to a specialist firm who will reply with what information they need next. Sending this does not commit you to any work or fee.

  • No obligation to proceed
  • Direct response from the firm
  • Site visits arranged locally

These details are passed to a specialist, as the privacy page describes.

Using Reigatefire costs you nothing, you are welcome to gather quotations from other firms as well, the specialist may pay this site once your enquiry has been handed across, and the privacy notice explains more about the handling of your details. One independent fire safety firm receives them.

Or send an email to hello@reigatefire.co.uk