Retrospective Fire Strategy

A Retrospective Fire Strategy is a comprehensive service designed to evaluate the fire safety provisions of an existing building.

Its primary goal is to assess how well the current fire safety arrangements align with both historical and current fire safety regulations. This offers building owners, facilities managers, and duty holders clarity and confidence in managing fire safety risks.

As fire safety regulations continue to evolve in response to technological advancements, building failures, and tragic events, the importance of understanding how existing buildings measure up to modern standards has never been greater.

Many older buildings were constructed before current fire safety standards were in place, and often, original fire strategy documents are incomplete, outdated, or missing entirely. This is where a Retrospective Fire Strategy becomes essential.

Whether you’re managing a historic commercial property, a repurposed residential building, or a complex mixed-use development, understanding the scope and value of a Retrospective Fire Strategy can help you protect lives, property, and comply with legal obligations.

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What is a Retrospective Fire Strategy?

A Retrospective Fire Strategy is an expert-led evaluation of the fire safety measures in place within an existing building, especially in cases where original fire safety documentation is no longer available or was never comprehensive.

Unlike a typical fire risk assessment, which evaluates how a building is currently managed on a day-to-day basis, a Retrospective Fire Strategy looks more deeply at the fabric of the building, its original design intent, and how these interact with evolving regulatory expectations.

The strategy provides an informed opinion on whether the building, in its current state, aligns with the fire safety requirements that were applicable at the time of construction.

It also considers the gaps between those historical standards and today’s more robust and nuanced fire safety guidance—often highlighting areas of risk that may have developed over time.

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Why Do Buildings Need a Retrospective Fire Strategy?

Many existing buildings—especially those built before the 1990s—lack a complete record of their original fire safety design. This can become a significant challenge when managing fire safety in line with modern regulations or when planning alterations, refurbishments, or change-of-use applications.

Some of the most common reasons to commission a Retrospective Fire Strategy include :

• Loss or absence of original fire strategy documents
• Changes in use or occupancy of the building
• Upcoming refurbishments or alterations
• Due diligence prior to property transactions
• Insurance or regulatory requirements
• Demonstrating compliance under the Fire Safety Order 2005

It’s also important to note that while older buildings may not be required to meet modern standards unless they are undergoing major works, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a statutory duty on responsible persons to regularly assess and manage fire risks.

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How Fire Safety Regulations Have Evolved

The development of fire safety legislation has been heavily influenced by lessons learned from real-world events, such as the King’s Cross fire (1987), Lakanal House (2009), and most notably, the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.

In response, regulatory frameworks have become significantly more robust, focusing on everything from fire spread prevention and compartmentation to active fire suppression and evacuation strategies.

For instance, current Building Regulations Approved Document B offers a far more detailed and risk-based approach than many of its predecessors. Buildings that were once deemed compliant may no longer meet the benchmark of safety considered acceptable today.

A Retrospective Fire Strategy acknowledges this shift, using a modern lens to evaluate the current suitability of older fire safety arrangements.

It is important to note that there is no legal obligation to upgrade the building to meet modern regulations unless significant alterations are planned. However, there remains a statutory duty under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to regularly review and maintain effective fire prevention and protection measures.

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Key Components of a Retrospective Fire Strategy

When you commission a Retrospective Fire Strategy, you’re investing in a structured, methodical, and comprehensive evaluation of fire safety in your building.

Here are the core elements typically involved :

1. Fire Risk Assessment Contextual Review : While not a substitute for a formal Fire Risk Assessment, the Retrospective Fire Strategy draws on fire risk principles to evaluate fire hazards and building vulnerabilities in the context of historical and modern standards.

2. Gap Analysis Against Current Standards : A critical component is a gap analysis, where the current fire safety features of the building are compared with today’s best practice utilizing a risk-based approach, as recommended by PAS 79 (Section 9).

3. Fire Detection and Alarm System Evaluation : Older buildings often have outdated or incomplete fire detection systems. The strategy assesses whether systems such as smoke detectors, heat sensors, and alarm interfaces meet the requirements of current BS 5839 standards.

4. Fire Suppression Measures : The presence and adequacy of suppression systems such as sprinklers, fire extinguishers, and hose reels are reviewed to determine if they are sufficient for the building’s size, use, and occupancy type.

5. Structural Fire Protection : One of the most technical aspects of the strategy involves evaluating the integrity of passive fire protection measures—fire-resistant walls, floors, doors, and compartmentation—against both historical and current requirements.

6. Means of Escape and Evacuation Strategy : A retrospective review includes an appraisal of the building’s evacuation routes, signage, emergency lighting, and accessibility.

7. Regulatory Compliance and Recommendations : The final strategy outlines any areas where remedial work may be beneficial or necessary, supported by risk-based justifications and aligned with a proportionate approach to compliance.

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Risk-Based Decision Making

One of the guiding principles behind a modern Retrospective Fire Strategy is proportionality. Not every building must be brought up to full modern standards unless significant alterations are planned. Instead, the strategy adopts a risk-based approach, in line with guidance such as PAS 79 (Section 9), to determine where enhancements are justified.

This ensures that recommendations are practical, prioritised based on risk, and tailored to the specific characteristics of the building. In some cases, relatively modest interventions—such as improving signage or compartmentation integrity—can drastically enhance occupant safety without incurring substantial cost.

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Deliverables and Outcomes

At the end of the process, the client receives a detailed Retrospective Fire Strategy Report, which includes:

• A review of the building’s known construction and fire safety history
• A current condition and compliance assessment
• A gap analysis versus current Building Regulation guidance
• Identification of risk areas and limitations
• Tailored recommendations for improvements, ranked by priority and risk
• Supporting rationale for each recommendation
• Clarification of responsibilities under relevant legislation

This report can be used to support discussions with fire authorities, insurers, designers, or regulatory bodies. It also acts as a valuable roadmap for maintaining or enhancing fire safety in a way that is both compliant and proportionate.

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Limitations of a Retrospective Fire Strategy

It’s important to clarify that a Retrospective Fire Strategy is not a replacement for a formal Fire Risk Assessment. While the strategy deals with design intent and physical fire precautions, the risk assessment deals with day-to-day operations, behaviours, and management procedures.

However, the two complement each other and, when used together, provide a robust foundation for ensuring long-term fire safety.

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Why Choose a Retrospective Fire Strategy?

In today’s regulatory landscape, the cost of inaction can be high—not only in legal and financial terms but in potential human consequences. A Retrospective Fire Strategy helps building owners take informed, proportionate steps toward safety compliance, especially where documentation is lacking or uncertainty exists about legacy design decisions.

This service provides peace of mind, regulatory resilience, and most importantly, a safer environment for the people who live, work, and visit your building.

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Interested in a Retrospective Fire Strategy for your property?

Contact Anstey Horne today to speak with our expert fire consultants. We help you make sense of past fire strategies and plan for a safer future—without unnecessary costs or disruptions.

Fire & Building Safety Services

Contact

To commission a Retrospective Fire Strategy please call 020 4534 3130.

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