Fire reports in construction: from the safety strategy to the civil defence certificate

Which fire report you need

1. 1
   Design

   The fire and life safety strategy report, agreed with civil defence before the layouts are fixed.

2. 2
   Approval

   The fire drawings and the strategy go to the civil defence authority of the Emirate for approval.

3. 3
   Construction

   Hot work permits and fire precautions on site while the building goes up.

4. 4
   Testing

   Test records for the fire alarm, sprinklers, hydrants and smoke control, with witnesses.

5. 5
   Completion

   The civil defence inspection and the completion certificate, before anyone moves in.

6. 6
   In use

   Maintenance and test certificates from a company approved by civil defence.

The fire and life safety strategy report

The strategy explains how the building keeps people safe in a fire. It is written against the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice, issued by the civil defence, and covers:

• The occupancy classification and the occupant load of each space
• Means of escape: exits, exit widths and travel distances
• Compartments and fire resistance
• Fire systems: detection and alarm, sprinklers, hydrants, smoke control and emergency lighting
• How the systems work together, in a cause and effect matrix
• Departures from the code, with how the same level of safety is reached

Test reports before handover

Each fire system is tested and its results recorded before the Tests on Completion and the civil defence inspection. Under Sub-Clause 9.1 of the FIDIC 1999 Red Book, the Contractor gives at least 21 days’ notice of readiness for each Test on Completion, and submits a certified report of the results.

If a fire breaks out on site

1. 1Raise the alarm, evacuate to the assembly point and call civil defence on 997
2. 2Account for everyone and give first aid; call 998 for an ambulance if anyone is hurt
3. 3Make the area safe, and leave it as it is until the investigation allows work to restart
4. 4Send the Engineer details of the accident as soon as practicable (Sub-Clause 6.7)
5. 5Notify the insurers as the policy requires, with photographs and the first report
6. 6Investigate the cause, and record the actions that stop it happening again

Common mistakes

• Fixing the layouts before civil defence has agreed the strategy
• Specifying facade materials without test certificates that meet the code
• Booking the civil defence inspection before the systems are tested
• No report to the Engineer after a fire on site, however small

Templates for each step