fire safety compliance for London’s construction industry 2025: How to Ensure Compliance — Essential Strategies for Project Managers

Why fire safety compliance matters on London construction sites

This guide focuses on practical steps for fire safety compliance on London construction projects in 2025. You will learn which legal duties apply, how to manage fire risk on site, and which systems and processes project managers must put in place to demonstrate compliance.

London projects face a dense urban environment, mixed uses and frequently tight access for appliances. These factors increase the consequences of a fire, and so regulatory scrutiny is high. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 remains central for most non-domestic sites, and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 place duties on designers and contractors to consider fire risks during design and build. For construction-specific advice on managing fire risks, HSE construction guidance emphasises risk assessment, means of escape and suitable firefighting arrangements.

Complying with fire safety law is not just a legal obligation. Proper planning avoids costly delays, prevents work stoppages by the fire and rescue service, and reduces the risk of serious injury or death. In London, stakeholders including clients, principal designers and principal contractors must demonstrate they have foreseen, evaluated and mitigated fire risks throughout the project lifecycle. For project managers, showing evidence of those steps is essential to defend decisions and keep programmes on track. HSE construction guidance

Key strategies for fire safety compliance for London’s construction industry 2025

Start with a strong fire safety plan. Carry out an initial fire risk assessment that is specific to the site stage and the intended use of completed areas. Ensure the plan is updated whenever the design, materials or site layout change. Embed daily procedures so every site worker understands hot works controls, storage rules for flammable materials and the location of escape routes and assembly points.

Use recognised standards and good practice to inform decisions. British Standards such as BS 9999 set recognised approaches to design and management of fire safety and can act as a benchmark for decisions on compartmentation, escape routes and signage. Where design choices are novel or complex, refer to these standards to justify solutions to building control and stakeholders.

Engage the fire and rescue service and local regulators early. The National Fire Chiefs Council has published procedural guidance clarifying how building control and fire services should interact during design and construction reviews. Early engagement reduces the chance of late objections that could delay handover or require costly retrofits. NFCC procedural guidance

Practical on-site controls every project manager must enforce

Implement robust hot works management. A hot works permit system should control all welding, cutting and flame-based work. Ensure permits are authorised by a competent person, include clear isolation steps, and require a post-work fire watch for a suitable period. Clear documentation of permits is important evidence of due diligence.

Control materials and waste. Reduce combustible storage in building voids and keep waste segregation and removal on tight schedules. Store liquids and aerosols in secure, ventilated cabinets away from ignition sources. Make these rules part of the daily toolbox talk and record breaches and corrective actions.

Protect escape routes and temporary means of escape. Keep stair cores, corridors and routes to hoardings free from materials, cables and temporary services. Any temporary lighting and signage must be clearly visible and maintained. For sites with phased occupation, ensure permanent and temporary escape arrangements are reconciled in the fire strategy.

Provide adequate detection and alarm arrangements. Temporary systems must provide timely alarm and suitable coverage for people on site and in occupied parts of the building. Test temporary systems regularly and log results.

Ensure firefighting access and water supplies. Confirm that fire appliances can access the site boundary, arrange hydrant testing if required, and maintain clear routes for fire and rescue service vehicles. Record discussions and agreements with local authorities and services.

Design, materials and higher-risk buildings: what to check in 2025

Identify whether the project is a higher-risk building. The Building Safety Act and subsequent guidance define higher-risk buildings and set out additional duties for their design and construction phases. If your project meets the criteria, you must follow the higher-risk regime and adopt more rigorous design verification and record-keeping. Project teams should consult the government guidance early to determine whether these requirements apply. Guidance on higher-risk building criteria

Specify appropriate compartmentation and façade materials. External wall systems and cladding have attracted intense regulatory focus since Grenfell. Follow the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, and use approved product data and test evidence when selecting façade and insulation systems. Keep thorough records of specifications, manufacturer certificates and installation evidence to demonstrate due diligence.

Design for resilience and maintainability. Choices such as separate stairways, robust fire doors and accessible firefighting shafts will help prevent fire spread and future operational difficulties. Use standards like BS 9999 for guidance on means of escape, fire resisting construction and life safety design.

Competence, training and documentation: demonstrating compliance

Appoint competent people and document their roles. The success of any fire safety regime depends on competence. Ensure the team includes qualified fire risk assessors, responsible managers for fire safety on site and trained fire marshals. Document competence, training records and licences; retain them with the project safety file for handover.

Use clear, version-controlled documentation. A construction phase fire strategy, site-specific risk assessments, permit-to-work forms and commissioning records for fire systems should be kept under version control. Digital logbooks or secure information boxes support transparency and handover obligations, particularly for residential or higher-risk buildings. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 guidance requires responsible persons to provide certain information to the fire and rescue service and maintain accurate building plans and records.

Train staff and test plans through exercises. Regular evacuation drills, simulated fire scenarios and equipment operation training reduce confusion and speed response during an incident. Keep drill outcomes and corrective actions in your records to show active monitoring and improvement.

How Total Safe supports project managers on London sites

Engage experienced consultants to close knowledge gaps quickly. Total Safe provides hands-on fire risk assessments, fire door inspections and ongoing maintenance services tailored for London and the South East. Our assessors can produce phased fire strategies and logbooks designed for construction handover. For example, Total Safe’s fire risk assessment service covers risk identification, means of escape review, and an actionable remediation plan that aligns with the Fire Safety Order. Total Safe fire risk assessment service

Door integrity and compartmentation support. Where door integrity or compartmentation is a concern, Total Safe’s fire door inspection and maintenance services provide documentation and remedial works needed to meet current expectations. Regular checks and corrective works prevent the kind of fire-door failures that undermine safe egress. Total Safe fire door inspections

Technology and monitoring: tools to improve compliance

Adopt digital record-keeping and remote monitoring where appropriate. Modern safety management platforms can store risk assessments, training records and certificates, and generate automatic reminders for inspections. Where specialist systems exist, consider monitored detection and suppression for temporarily occupied zones.

Use condition monitoring for critical systems. Emergency lighting, dry risers and temporary suppression systems should be subject to routine testing and logged. This approach creates a clear audit trail and supports rapid response when non-compliance is identified.

Responding to non-compliance and incidents

Have a clear corrective action process. When inspection or testing reveals faults, assign responsibility, set deadlines and confirm completion in writing. Track trends and escalate repeated failures to senior management.

Report incidents promptly and learn from them. If a fire occurs, notify the fire and rescue service and preserve site records. Conduct a structured incident review to understand root causes and to prevent recurrence. Document changes to the fire strategy that result from the review.

Conclusion and next steps for project managers

In 2025, fire safety compliance for London’s construction industry demands proactive planning, clear documentation and competent people. Start by confirming whether your project falls under higher-risk building rules and update the construction fire strategy accordingly. Control hot works and materials, maintain escape routes, and prioritise competent fire door and compartmentation inspections. Use standards such as BS 9999 to support design choices and engage the NFCC and local fire service as early stakeholders to reduce late-stage challenges.

If you need practical help implementing these steps, consider booking a site audit or a phased fire risk assessment with Total Safe. Our team will assess hazards, prepare a clear action plan and provide the records you need to demonstrate compliance through handover. For site managers who prefer to self-manage, ensure that your training records, permit-to-work systems and digital logs are robust and current. Total Safe fire risk assessment service

For authoritative guidance on legislation and fire doors, consult the government’s Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 guidance and the fire door guidance published by the Home Office. For practical construction safety requirements, consult HSE construction fire safety guidance. For design and management best practice, refer to BS 9999 and NFCC procedural guidance

FAQ

Q: Who is legally responsible for fire safety on a construction site?

A: Responsibility is shared. The client, designers and contractors all have duties under CDM 2015, and the ‘responsible person’ concept in the Fire Safety Order still applies to occupied or non-domestic premises. Make sure dutyholders are appointed and documented. HSE construction guidance

Q: Do temporary works need fire detection and alarm systems?

A: Yes, any area that is occupied or that would put people at risk in a fire needs suitable detection and alarm arrangements. Temporary systems must be tested and logged until permanent systems are commissioned. HSE construction fire safety guidance

Q: How often should fire doors be checked during construction and handover?

A: Routine checks should be carried out during site works and before handover. For blocks of flats and similar buildings, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 include specific expectations for checks and for providing information to residents and fire services. Maintain records to show checks and remedial actions.

Q: Where can I find guidance on higher-risk building criteria?

A: The government publishes the criteria for higher-risk buildings and supplementary guidance for designers and builders; consult the GOV.UK collection for the most recent criteria and guidance documents. Guidance on higher-risk building criteria

Q: How can Total Safe help my project meet compliance?

A: Total Safe offers fire risk assessments, fire door inspections and ongoing maintenance designed for London projects. We can supply phased strategies, logbooks and remedial works to support a compliant handover. See Total Safe fire risk assessment service and Total Safe fire door inspections for details.

Further reading and resources

Government guidance on the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and fire doors: Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 guidance.

HSE guidance for fire safety in construction: HSE construction fire safety guidance.

NFCC procedural and building-safety guidance for design and consultation: NFCC building regulations and procedural guidance.

BS 9999 — guidance on fire safety in design and management: BS 9999: Fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings.

If you would like a tailored checklist or a site audit, contact Total Safe to arrange a consultation and practical next steps.