Buildings and Occupancies
Certain residential, commercial, institutional and assembly occupancies may require a building-specific Fire Safety Plan based on their use, design and applicable Fire Code requirements.
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Prepare Before an Emergency
A Fire Safety Plan Helps Everyone Know What to Do
A Fire Safety Plan is a building-specific document that identifies fire-safety procedures, responsibilities and important information needed before and during an emergency. Where a plan is required, it must reflect the building, its occupants and the fire-protection systems currently in place.
A Fire Safety Plan is not simply paperwork. It is a working safety document that must remain accurate, accessible and understood by the people responsible for the property.
Understanding the Requirement
When Is a Fire Safety Plan Required?
Fire Safety Plan requirements depend on how a building or site is designed, occupied and used. The type of activity, level of risk and fire-protection systems in place may also affect what is required.
Higher-Risk Operations
A plan may be required where activities involve combustible materials, hazardous processes, increased fire risk or conditions that could affect the safe evacuation of occupants.
Construction and Demolition
Construction, renovation and demolition projects may require a separate Construction Fire Safety Plan before work begins on the site.
Do not assume a property is exempt. Requirements vary according to the building design, occupancy, installed systems, activities taking place and applicable legislation. Building owners and authorized representatives are responsible for confirming and meeting the requirements that apply to their property.
Clear Accountability
Who Is Responsible for the Plan?
A Fire Safety Plan only works when responsibilities are clearly assigned and the people named in the plan understand what they are expected to do.
The Owner or Authorized Representative
The building owner or the owner’s authorized representative is responsible for establishing the Fire Safety Plan, keeping it accurate and ensuring its procedures are implemented. Hiring a consultant to prepare the document does not replace the need for active oversight.
Supervisory Staff
Designated supervisory staff must understand the plan, know their assigned duties and be prepared to carry out emergency procedures, inspections and fire drills.
Occupants and Tenants
Occupants should receive the instructions relevant to them, including what to do when an alarm sounds, how to evacuate safely and where to assemble.
Contractors and Consultants
Qualified professionals may assist with preparing, reviewing or updating the plan, but building-specific information and assigned responsibilities must be confirmed by those responsible for the property.
A plan cannot simply be stored and forgotten. The people assigned duties in it must know where it is located, understand their responsibilities and be ready to act.
Building-Specific Information
What Does a Fire Safety Plan Include?
Every Fire Safety Plan must be developed for the actual property. Although requirements vary, a complete plan commonly addresses the following areas.
Emergency Procedures
Clear instructions for sounding the alarm, contacting emergency services, evacuating occupants and responding safely to a fire or other emergency.
Assigned Responsibilities
The names, positions and duties of supervisory staff and other people responsible for carrying out the plan.
Occupant Safety
Evacuation procedures, assembly areas and any building-specific measures needed to assist occupants who may require additional support.
Fire-Protection Systems
Information about fire alarms, sprinklers, standpipes, emergency power and other fire and life-safety systems serving the property.
Inspections and Maintenance
Required checks, testing and maintenance schedules used to help ensure fire-protection equipment and building safety features remain operational.
Plans, Records and Contacts
Building drawings, system locations, emergency contacts, drill records and other information needed by staff and responding firefighters.
A generic template is only a starting point. The final Fire Safety Plan must accurately reflect the building, its occupants, its current fire-protection systems and any site-specific hazards.
Available When It Matters
Where Must the Fire Safety Plan Be Kept?
A current copy of the Fire Safety Plan must remain at the property in a clearly identified location where it can be accessed by the people responsible for building safety and emergency response.
Keep an Accessible Copy on Site
The plan should be stored in its designated building location and remain available for Richmond Fire-Rescue, supervisory staff, property representatives and other authorized personnel. Everyone assigned a role in the plan should know exactly where it is kept.
Clearly Identified
The storage location should be recorded in the plan and communicated to the people responsible for the property.
Quickly Accessible
The plan must be reachable when needed and should not be locked away somewhere that emergency personnel cannot access.
Current and Complete
The copy kept on site should contain the latest approved procedures, contacts, drawings and building information.
Uploading a copy does not replace the on-site plan. A current and accessible copy must still be maintained at the property for reference during inspections and emergencies.
Keep the Plan Current
Reviewing and Updating the Fire Safety Plan
A Fire Safety Plan must continue to reflect the building as it currently operates. Regular reviews help ensure that emergency contacts, assigned responsibilities, procedures and building information remain accurate.
People or Contact Information Changes
Update the plan when owners, property managers, emergency contacts or supervisory staff change.
Building Use or Layout Changes
Review the plan following renovations, changes in occupancy, altered evacuation routes or changes to assembly areas.
Fire-Protection Systems Change
Revise building information when fire alarms, sprinklers, standpipes, emergency power or other safety systems are added, removed or modified.
Drills Reveal a Problem
Update procedures when a drill, inspection or actual emergency identifies confusion, delays, missing information or another weakness in the plan.
Replace outdated copies when the plan changes. Ensure the current version is kept in the designated on-site location and that everyone assigned a responsibility is informed of the changes.
Put the Plan Into Practice
Training, Drills and Implementation
A Fire Safety Plan is effective only when the people responsible for the property understand it, practise its procedures and carry out the required fire-safety duties.
Train Supervisory Staff
Everyone assigned a responsibility must understand the building, emergency procedures, evacuation arrangements and the duties they are expected to perform.
Conduct and Record Drills
Hold fire drills according to the building’s occupancy, applicable requirements and approved Fire Safety Plan. Record each drill and note any problems that need correction.
Carry Out Routine Duties
Complete the inspections, checks, testing, recordkeeping and other ongoing responsibilities identified in the plan.
A Drill Is Also a Test of the Plan
Use each drill to identify unclear instructions, outdated information, evacuation difficulties or gaps in staff training. Correct the issue and update the plan when necessary.
Prepared Before It Matters
A Fire Safety Plan Must Be More Than a Document
The purpose of a Fire Safety Plan is to help people respond quickly, safely and confidently. That only happens when the plan reflects the building, responsibilities are understood and its procedures are regularly put into practice.
Confirm the Requirements
Understand what applies to the building, occupancy, activities and fire-protection systems at the property.
Assign and Train People
Make sure everyone named in the plan understands their duties and knows what to do during an emergency.
Keep the Plan Active
Review it regularly, update it when conditions change and use drills to confirm that its procedures work.
A current plan, trained people and practised procedures create a safer building for occupants, staff and responding firefighters.