Is a fire safety plan a legal requirement on construction sites?

Yes. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person (typically the principal contractor on a construction site) to carry out a fire risk assessment and implement appropriate fire precautions. The Joint Code of Practice on the Protection from Fire of Construction Sites and Buildings Undergoing Renovation (published by the FPA and Construction Industry Council) provides the industry standard framework.

How often should the fire risk assessment be updated?

The fire risk assessment should be reviewed whenever there is a significant change to the site, the work activities, the materials stored, or the site layout. In practice, this means reviewing at least monthly on most construction projects, and more frequently during high-risk phases such as fit-out when combustible materials increase significantly.

What fire extinguishers are needed on a construction site?

At minimum, water extinguishers or foam extinguishers should be provided at each fire point. CO2 extinguishers should be available near electrical installations and temporary power supplies. Additional specialist extinguishers may be needed depending on materials stored (e.g., dry powder for gas risks). Fire points should be no more than 30 metres from any working area.

Who should be appointed as fire marshal on a construction site?

At least one trained fire marshal should be appointed per floor or zone of the site. On large sites, one fire marshal per 50 workers is a common guideline. Fire marshals should be trained in fire awareness, extinguisher use, evacuation procedures, and sweep-and-clear techniques. They should be identifiable (coloured hard hat or vest).

Fire Safety Plan for Construction Sites

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Safety Management · 14 min read · 6 March 2026

Construction sites are particularly vulnerable to fire. The combination of hot works, flammable materials, temporary electrical installations, limited detection systems, and incomplete fire compartmentation creates conditions where fires can start easily and spread rapidly. Between 2019 and 2024, the London Fire Brigade alone responded to over 2,000 construction site fires. Many of these were preventable with proper planning.

Why Construction Fires Happen

Understanding the causes helps you target your prevention efforts. The most common causes of construction site fires in the UK are:

Hot works: Welding, cutting, grinding, and brazing account for a significant proportion of construction fires. Sparks and hot slag can travel considerable distances and ignite combustible materials that are out of direct sight.
Arson: Deliberate fire-setting is a major cause, particularly on unoccupied sites during weekends and holidays. Good site security is your primary defence against arson.
Electrical faults: Temporary electrical installations, overloaded circuits, damaged cables, and faulty equipment. Construction site electrics take significant punishment from the environment and from being moved frequently.
Discarded smoking materials: Cigarette ends in areas with combustible materials. Designated smoking areas away from combustible storage are essential.
Spontaneous combustion: Linseed oil-soaked rags, certain adhesives, and some insulation materials can self-ignite under the right conditions.
Plant and equipment: Overheating engines, fuel leaks, and exhaust systems in contact with combustible materials.

Fire Risk Assessment

Your fire risk assessment should follow the standard five-step approach:

Identify fire hazards: Sources of ignition (hot works, electrical, smoking, plant), sources of fuel (timber, insulation, packaging, solvents, gas cylinders, waste), and sources of oxygen (usually ambient air, but also compressed gas cylinders and oxidising chemicals).
Identify who is at risk: Your workforce, visitors, neighbouring occupants, members of the public. Consider people who may be particularly vulnerable: lone workers in remote parts of the site, people working in areas with limited escape routes.
Evaluate the risks: What is the likelihood of a fire starting? What would the consequences be? Are existing controls adequate?
Record and implement: Document your findings and implement the control measures. The fire risk assessment is a living document that changes as the project progresses.
Review regularly: The fire risk profile of a construction site changes dramatically over its life. A steel frame with no combustibles is very different from a fit-out phase with timber, insulation, adhesives, and finishes everywhere.

Hot Works Management

Hot works are the most controllable cause of construction fires. A robust permit to work system for hot works should include:

Pre-work checks: Clear combustible materials from within 10 metres (or further if sparks could travel further). Protect materials that cannot be moved with fire-retardant blankets. Check areas above, below, and behind the work point for concealed combustibles.
During work: Dedicated fire watch person present throughout. Suitable fire extinguisher within reach. No other work in the immediate area that could create additional ignition sources.
Post-work fire watch: Continue the fire watch for at least 60 minutes after hot works cease. Some insurers require 2 hours. The fire watch person should inspect the area thoroughly before leaving.
Out-of-hours hot works: Avoid hot works in the last hour of the working day wherever possible. If hot works must be done late in the day, the post-work fire watch period extends into out-of-hours time and must be resourced.

Storage and Housekeeping

Good housekeeping is one of the most effective fire prevention measures:

Waste management: Remove combustible waste from the building at least daily. Do not allow waste to accumulate in stairwells, corridors, or near escape routes. Use dedicated waste skips and ensure they are not positioned directly against the building.
Flammable storage: Store flammable liquids in purpose-built, fire-resistant stores. Limit quantities in the workplace to what is needed for the current shift. Gas cylinders should be stored externally in a secure, ventilated compound away from combustible materials.
Timber and insulation: Store bulk quantities of timber and insulation away from the building where possible. Within the building, limit stocks to what is being actively installed and remove packaging promptly.
Temporary heaters: If temporary heating is needed, use indirect-fired heaters (where the combustion happens outside the heated space). LPG heaters in enclosed spaces are a significant fire and carbon monoxide risk. Never use heaters to dry materials by placing materials directly on or near them.

Detection and Alarm Systems

Construction sites typically lack the fire detection systems present in completed buildings. You need to provide adequate detection and alarm for the construction phase:

Fire alarm: A temporary fire alarm system that can be heard from all parts of the site. On small sites, air horns may be sufficient. On larger sites, a temporary electric alarm system with manual call points is needed.
Detection: In areas where people may be working remotely (e.g., upper floors of a multi-storey building), temporary heat or smoke detectors connected to the alarm system provide early warning. Note that smoke detectors will false-alarm frequently on construction sites due to dust, so heat detectors or multi-criteria detectors may be more appropriate.
Communication: On large sites, radios are essential for coordinating evacuation. Mobile phone coverage is not always reliable in basements or dense structures.

Emergency Procedures

Your fire emergency plan should cover:

Evacuation routes: Mark escape routes clearly. Ensure they are kept clear of obstructions at all times. Provide temporary lighting in stairwells and escape routes where permanent lighting is not yet installed.
Assembly points: Designate assembly points away from the building and away from site access roads (so emergency vehicles can get in). Everyone must know where the assembly point is.
Roll call: A system for accounting for everyone on site after evacuation. This relies on an accurate sign-in/sign-out register.
Fire marshals: Appoint trained fire marshals for each floor or zone. They should check their area during evacuation (sweep and clear) and report to the site manager at the assembly point.
Emergency services: Know the site address and postcode (many construction sites are on roads without numbers). Have a plan for meeting the fire brigade at the gate and directing them to the fire location. Ensure the fire brigade can access the site with their vehicles.
Drills: Conduct fire drills at regular intervals. Monthly is ideal. Record the results and use them to improve the emergency plan.

Fire Plan Checklist

Fire risk assessment completed and up to date?
Hot works permit system in place and being used?
Fire extinguishers at designated fire points (max 30m from any working area)?
Combustible waste removed from the building daily?
Flammable materials stored correctly?
Escape routes clear and marked?
Fire alarm audible from all working areas?
Fire marshals appointed and trained?
Assembly point designated and communicated?
Emergency contact numbers displayed?
Fire drills conducted and recorded?
Smoking restricted to designated areas?
Temporary heaters positioned and used safely?
Gas cylinders stored in secure, ventilated compound?

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