Fire Safety in buildings under construction or renovation

If a fire occurs in a building under construction or renovation, the consequences can be extremely severe. Combustible cladding, scaffolding and netting can accelerate fire spread to the building externally whilst internally the removal of structural fire protecting walls, floors and doors will enable the fire to grow unchecked.

Whilst the Health & Safety Executive are the enforcing authority for Fire Safety in Buildings under construction as per the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Construction, Design and Management Regulations 2015, Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority have a duty to ensure that all commercial businesses comply with fire Safety regulations to protect and keep people safe from fire.

Advice for developers

When undertaking construction/remedial works:

  • Have you contacted local building control to notify them of a change of use or alteration to the premises?
  • Have you engaged with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) when working on higher risk buildings?
  • Have you conducted an updated fire risk assessment?
  • Consider how you are managing all means of escape – temporary works must not block of reduce access to emergency exits
  • Assess and provide Alarm systems
  • Maintain access for the Fire Service
  • Implement robust permit to work system – e.g for hot works
  • Provide adequate fire safety equipment, including extinguishers, emergency lighting, signage
  • Provide staff with health and safety briefs which include fire and evacuation actions to ensure that they know how to raise and respond to a fire alarm, where the assembly point is and how to report any hazards
  • Manage combustibles and secure electrical and gas systems to reduce ignition sources and accidental ignition.
  • Prohibit employees from sleeping in unsafe areas within the site
  • Make employees immediately aware of any updates in fire risk assessments, fire risks or evacuation strategy
  • Does the development trigger enhanced obligations for higher‑risk buildings (HRBs), particularly those undergoing cladding or structural remediation?

If you think a building is unsafe, or that people are at risk from fire within a commercial premises – report it!

Reporting these kinds of premises allows us to share vital intelligence with our operational response crews to inform them of the hazards and tactics to safely operate at an incident. With this intelligence we can provide fire safety advice to occupiers and work with responsible persons and the Health and Safety Executive to ensure effective control measures are adequate.

Tell the HSE about a health and Safety Issue

Report a Commercial fire safety concern

Download our Fire Safety Advice for Businesses leaflet to find out how you can better protect your business