It is essential to have a comprehensive and up-to-date Fire Safety Plan for your building or complex, to ensure that you are fully compliant with the local fire code and, of course, to ensure that your property and the safety of the building’s occupants are maintained. Creating and implementing a proper fire safety plan requires a thorough understanding of the building’s elements, structure, layout, and use, so that the fire protection systems and the fire safety plan address the requirements for the building.
At Active Fire and Safety Services, we have been providing professional fire safety planning in BC for over 25 years. We provide complete fire plans to clients in Vancouver and across the lower mainland, which are customized for each property. We specialize in creating fire safety plans for multi-family residential, commercial, and industrial properties, including:
Each fire safety plan includes several components, which together ensure that the building and its occupants are as prepared as possible in the event of a fire. Elements of the plan include:
We are dedicated to providing excellent service to our clients, as well as fully developed and documented custom fire safety plans. Every fire plan we prepare is created in accordance with the British Columbia Fire Code and we coordinate with local jurisdictions until plan approval is confirmed.
To streamline the preparation process, we can import your own AutoCAD drawings of the building as the basis for our fire plan drawings and evacuation plans, so that the format is consistent with your own documentation.
Our custom fire safety plans and evacuation drawings can be provided in any format required by your local fire department and can be submitted electronically to the required fire departments.
We also keep a current copy of the fire plan, so that key updates can be made as needed.
Once your fire safety plan has been completed and approved, it is important to note that it must also be reviewed and re-submitted for approval at least once every 12 months, or sooner if changes have been made in the building, in accordance with the BC Fire Code.
We will review your Fire Safety Plan for current compliance and ensure that the following elements are accurate and up-to-date within the plan:
If, during the review, the plan is found to not be non-compliant with the Fire Code, additional fees will apply to revise the plan or if it requires re-development.
Upon completion of the review, we will provide confirmation affirming that the Plan is an accurate reflection of the current Supervisory Staff roles and responsibilities, Fire Alarm Sequence of Operations, Building conditions and layout, and Human Resources. This letter should be inserted at the front of the Fire Safety Plan for easy review by the Fire Department during an inspection.
Active Fire can also provide fire safety training to your supervisory employees so that they are aware of the fire safety procedures and how to follow the fire safety plan.
If you’d like to have your employees trained to capably deal with a fire emergency contact us today to arrange fire safety training.
The safety of your building and its occupants are of the utmost importance, as is compliance with the BC Fire Code. Contact us today to schedule a fire safety consultation for your property.
FAQ
A Fire Safety Plan is a legally required, site-specific document that outlines the emergency procedures, evacuation routes, maintenance schedules, and staff responsibilities to protect a building’s occupants during an emergency. In British Columbia, it must be prepared in cooperation with the local fire department and conform to Section 2.8 of the BC Fire Code. It serves three main purposes:
Under the BC Fire Code, a Fire Safety Plan is mandatory for:
Yes, if the building has a fire alarm system, it requires a fire safety plan, regardless of size. Even if a plan is not strictly required by code for a very small specific occupancy, having one is often a condition of insurance and is considered a critical due diligence step for business owners.
While the Fire Safety Plan is for building owners and occupants, a Pre-Incident Plan is a distinct set of documents specifically for the fire department. It includes detailed site plans, floor layouts, and utility shut-off locations in a format that firefighters can use immediately upon arrival. Many municipalities (such as Vancouver, Burnaby, and Surrey) require both to be submitted simultaneously.
The BC Fire Code mandates that your plan be reviewed at least every 12 months (annually) to ensuring it remains current.
Additionally, you must update the plan immediately if:
Failure to have an approved Fire Safety Plan is a violation of the BC Fire Code and local municipal bylaws. Penalties include fines, administrative penalties, and closures. In the event of a fire, lack of a compliant plan can void insurance policies and leave building owners personally liable for negligence.
Yes. Your plan must be submitted to the local fire department (the “Authority Having Jurisdiction”) for review and approval. Most departments charge a plan review fee. At Active Fire, we handle this submission process for you to ensure the plan is accepted without administrative delays.
A CFSP is a specific type of plan required before any construction, alteration, or demolition work begins. It adheres to Section 5.6 of the BC Fire Code. Unlike a standard plan, it focuses on hazards unique to active job sites, such as:
You must have an approved CFSP in place before you can obtain your building permit or begin demolition/construction. Municipalities will often put a hold on permits until this plan is submitted and approved.
The Fire Safety Director is the person designated by the building owner to be responsible for implementing the Fire Safety Plan. Their duties include:
Yes. The BC Fire Code requires that supervisory staff be trained in their duties before they are given responsibility for fire safety. Active Fire provides specific training for Fire Safety Directors to ensure they are competent and compliant.
Most BC municipalities require a weatherproof, secure box (often called a “lockbox” or “FSP box”) to be installed at the building’s principal entrance. This box contains a hard copy of the Fire Safety Plan and keys for the fire department to access the building during an emergency.
Active Fire has been serving the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley for over 25 years. We service Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Delta, Richmond, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, New Westminster, Langley, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Pitt Meadows, Port Moody, Maple Ridge, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, and surrounding areas.
