Fire Safety · Mandatory · Pre-Construction
Fire Safety Management Plan
A plan setting out the overall fire safety management arrangements for the construction project.
Last reviewed: 29 March 2026 — This guide reflects UK law as of this date. RRO 2005 / BSA 2022 remains current with no amendments enacted as of 29 March 2026. Next scheduled review: 29 March 2027.
| Legal basis | Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) Articles 8–22 — general fire precautions duties / Building Safety Act 2022 |
| Purpose | Operational document that translates fire risk assessment findings into practical, day-to-day fire safety management arrangements for the premises or site |
| Construction sites | Changing risk profile through phases, hot works, timber frame construction, arson, temporary accommodation — the FSMP must be reviewed and updated at every phase transition |
| Higher-risk buildings | For higher-risk buildings (HRBs), the fire safety management plan forms part of the Safety Case (Gateway 4 / Key Dataset K4) under the Building Safety Act 2022 |
| RRO duties | Articles 8–22 impose duties including fire precautions, emergency routes and exits, fire detection and warning, fire-fighting equipment, maintenance, safety assistance, information, training, and cooperation |
1. Fire Safety Management Plan
The fire safety management plan (FSMP) is the operational document that translates the findings of the fire risk assessment into practical, day-to-day fire safety management arrangements. While the fire risk assessment identifies the hazards, the people at risk, and the controls required, the FSMP sets out how those controls will be implemented, maintained, monitored, and reviewed. It is the working document that ensures fire safety is actively managed rather than simply assessed.
On construction sites, the fire safety management plan is particularly critical because the risk profile changes continuously as the project progresses through different phases. The hazards present during groundworks are fundamentally different from those during timber frame erection, which are different again from those during fit-out and commissioning. Hot works, temporary heating, combustible material storage, arson risk, and temporary accommodation for site workers all create hazards that must be actively managed. The FSMP must be a living document that is reviewed and updated at every phase transition, whenever the site layout changes, and whenever new hazards are introduced.
Articles 8 to 22 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 impose a comprehensive set of duties on the responsible person, covering fire precautions, emergency routes and exits, fire detection and fire warning systems, fire-fighting equipment and facilities, maintenance, competent assistance, procedures for serious and imminent danger, information to employees and other persons, cooperation and coordination, and training. The FSMP is the mechanism through which these duties are discharged in practice.
Review the FSMP at every phase transition
On a construction site, the fire risk profile changes fundamentally at each phase of the project — groundworks, substructure, superstructure, envelope, fit-out, commissioning, and handover. The fire safety management plan must be formally reviewed and updated at every phase transition to reflect the new hazards, the changed site layout, the revised escape routes, and the updated emergency procedures. A plan written for the groundworks phase is not valid during timber frame erection. Failure to update the FSMP at phase transitions is one of the most common and most dangerous failures in construction fire safety management.
2. Content
The fire safety management plan should address all of the operational arrangements needed to manage fire safety on the site or premises. The following table sets out the required content.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Site / premises details | Full address, site plan, building layout, current phase of construction or use, number of persons on site, and identification of the responsible person under the RRO |
| Emergency procedures | Step-by-step procedures for raising the alarm, calling the fire and rescue service, and managing the emergency — including out-of-hours arrangements and procedures for areas with limited communication |
| Evacuation strategy | Evacuation routes and exits clearly identified, assembly point locations, procedures for accounting for all persons after evacuation, arrangements for disabled persons and persons with restricted mobility, and sweep procedures |
| Fire warden duties | Names and roles of appointed fire wardens, areas of responsibility, duties during an evacuation (including sweep of their designated area), liaison with the fire and rescue service, and cover arrangements for absences |
| Hot works controls | Permit-to-work system for all hot works, pre-work checks, fire watch during and after hot works (minimum 60 minutes post-work), fire extinguisher provision, and end-of-day inspection procedures |
| Fire equipment provision | Type, number, and location of fire extinguishers, fire blankets, hose reels, and any other fire-fighting equipment — including temporary provision during construction and arrangements for equipment that is not yet commissioned |
| Maintenance schedule | Scheduled inspection and maintenance of fire detection systems, fire alarm systems, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers, fire doors, fire-stopping, escape routes, and signage — with responsible persons and frequencies |
| Training | Fire safety induction training for all persons entering the site, role-specific training for fire wardens and fire marshals, refresher training at defined intervals, fire drill schedule and records, and training on the use of fire extinguishers |
| Special hazards | Specific arrangements for managing identified special hazards — timber frame construction, flammable liquid and gas storage, temporary heating, LPG cylinders, foam insulation, combustible cladding materials, arson prevention, and temporary accommodation |
| Review | Schedule for reviewing and updating the FSMP — at defined intervals, at every phase transition, whenever the fire risk assessment is revised, and whenever there is a significant change to the site layout, workforce, or hazard profile |
3. Common Mistakes
Not updating the FSMP at phase changes
The fire risk profile on a construction site changes fundamentally at each phase of the project. The hazards during groundworks (fuel storage, temporary heating) are entirely different from those during superstructure (timber frame, working at height, crane operations) and different again from those during fit-out (combustible materials, hot works, partially completed fire protection). An FSMP that is written at the start of the project and never updated is dangerously inadequate for later phases. The plan must be formally reviewed and updated at every phase transition, with new hazards identified, escape routes revised, emergency procedures updated, and the revised plan communicated to the entire workforce.
Not communicating the plan to all contractors
On a construction site with multiple contractors and subcontractors, the fire safety management plan is only effective if every person on site knows the emergency procedures, the escape routes, the assembly points, and their individual responsibilities. An FSMP that exists only in the site manager's office and has not been communicated to the workforce is failing in its purpose. The plan must be communicated through site induction, toolbox talks, display of emergency procedures and escape route plans, and regular fire drills. Every contractor must receive a copy of the relevant parts of the plan and must confirm that they have communicated it to their operatives.
4. Frequently Asked Questions
Is the fire safety management plan the same as an emergency fire procedure?▾
No. An emergency fire procedure is one component of the fire safety management plan, but the FSMP is a much broader document. The emergency fire procedure sets out the immediate actions to be taken when a fire is discovered or the alarm is raised — raising the alarm, calling the fire and rescue service, evacuating the premises, and accounting for all persons. The fire safety management plan encompasses the emergency fire procedure but also covers the full range of operational fire safety management arrangements, including fire warden appointments and duties, hot works controls, fire equipment provision and maintenance, training programmes, special hazard management, housekeeping standards, arson prevention measures, and the schedule for reviewing and updating the plan. The FSMP is the overarching document that ensures all aspects of fire safety are actively managed on a day-to-day basis.
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