Fire Strategy for new build residential premises

[Centurion]

Does anybody have a clue how much a fire strategy costs. Im  surprised at the different prices quoted..some wanting a % of the build cost some a flat fee. Stipulation being it must be PAS 911 or equivalent standard.
Cheers

[kurnal]

It will all come down to how long the job will take- in the end we all work to an hourly rate. So the answer is it depends on size, complexity, design- does it comply with standard design templates or will fire engineering be required, how much background info is available - work already done by the architect.

So some will give a quote based on the total building cost- thats generally how Approved Building Inspectors calculate their fees and its a fair indicator for a standard, code compliant building, others will take a look at the plans and give a quote based on that.  Sorry but thats how it is- you should invite several quotes and take it from there.

[Tom Sutton]

I have heard this term banded about but where do fire strategy documents fall in the scheme of things? Sorry Centurion.

[kurnal]

Hi TW
The followng link may (or may not) cast some light on the subject.

http://www.kingfell.com/uploads/PAS911WhitePaper.pdf

I'm afraid that to straightforward folk like you and I this PAS may contain liberal quantities of what we used to call bollox. But its the future.

[Centurion]

Yeah PAS 911 like it or lump it I suppose its hard to attain standardisation without a standard. BS will follow im sure. Again its no different to PAS 79 and the likes.

[kurnal]

Or was PAS911 only necessary becoause the BSI rushed into adopting PAS79 and then realised that reallty its only an audit and does not effectively record the risk control measures and how they work together in concert?

Is the strategy you are looking for something produced in hindsight on completion or partial completion of the project as many of them are,  or will it be starting in the initial design phase of the project?

[Centurion]

Its hindsight..BCO has thrown back a requirement for a strategy...prescriptive build no big licks...no fire engineering...just a pulling together of ifre measures.

[Big T]

I was at a presentation regarding 911 and it came accross as a "new wave" yet simple way to create a strategy.

Why must it be written in line with 911 though? its a guide but there are other ways of creating one.

[Centurion]

Its doesnt have too be..just prefered. Guidance is guidance after all, though after reading PAS 911 the methodology although not that different to the norm does create an opportunity for some standardisation.

[kurnal]

I would ask the BCO to clarify why he is asking for the strategy. If its something to support Regulation 16B then thats one thing a necessary and useful overview to inform the Responsible Person in the completion of a fire risk assessment, but generally the BCO will only require a strategy document to justify variations from the ADB or 5588 prescriptive documents.

For straightforward BCO  request for a strategy document  to support the Building Regulations Approval process in a prescriptive building I usually just run through the Functional requirements B1-B5 and bring together all elements that contribute to compliance and then put together the ongoing management requirements- depending on the quality and content of the CDM H&S and O&M file . This falls short of PAS911 - but theres no need for duplication of effort in my view.

Now if we were to do it properly we should have sat down with the client and architect before anybody put pen to paper and then the PAS911 approach  becomes very relevant and of value. But it never works like that.

[Centurion]

It could have something to do with L1 (landlord areas only) and hard wired not interfaced to the private accomodation. As the fire service in a attempt to drive down unwanted fire signals prefered a part 6 to the accomodation and nothing to the communal areas.

[CivvyFSO]

That is more related to building regs/ADB etc than to any requirement/suggestion of the fire service.

[nearlythere]

Hi TW
The followng link may (or may not) cast some light on the subject.

http://www.kingfell.com/uploads/PAS911WhitePaper.pdf

I'm afraid that to straightforward folk like you and I this PAS may contain liberal quantities of what we used to call bollox. But its the future.

The small to medium sized businesses are going to love this.

Wonder how it will fit in with the following though?

http://www.berr.gov.uk/bbf/better-regulation/red-tape/page23677.html

[Davo]

Prof

I think they call it b****** nowadays too.
Don't show it to my boss, he will get very excited, he loves stuff like this.


davo

[Centurion]

The best bit is it costs £99 for a copy either downloaded of hard for all 48 pages!! Or you could wait a year or three. Or source it underground!