Heritage & Historic Building Fire Safety Consultants

A fire risk assessment remains a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, regardless of the age or historic significance of the building.

However, heritage properties require a different approach to modern commercial premises.

Many historic buildings contain:

• Traditional timber construction
• Historic staircases and circulation routes
• Original doors and architectural features
• Lath and plaster construction
• Concealed voids and roof spaces
• Complex layouts developed over centuries
• Limitations on structural alterations
• Conservation restrictions imposed by Listed Building Consent

A generic fire risk assessment often fails to properly consider these challenges.

Our assessments identify fire hazards, evaluate existing precautions and develop practical recommendations that are proportionate to both the risks present and the significance of the building.

In addition to fire risk assessments, we provide specialist fire safety consultancy for heritage and listed buildings.

This may include:

• Fire safety strategies
• Means of escape reviews
• Fire compartmentation advice
• Fire door surveys and assessments
• Liaison with Fire and Rescue Services
• Advice regarding fire detection and alarm systems
• Emergency lighting reviews
• Management procedures and evacuation planning
• Conservation-sensitive fire protection solutions
• Support during refurbishment and change of use projects

Our aim is always to achieve compliance without unnecessarily impacting the historic character of the property.

DMB Fire Safety provides specialist fire risk assessments and fire safety consultancy for churches, chapels and other historic places of worship throughout the UK.

Historic churches can present a distinctive combination of fire safety challenges. Traditional construction, timber roofs and galleries, towers, concealed roof voids, historic doors and ironmongery, limited compartmentation and restrictions on alterations all need to be considered alongside the way the building is actually occupied and managed.

Many churches also experience significant variations in occupancy. A building that is normally occupied by only a small number of people may accommodate a much larger congregation for weddings, funerals, concerts, community events and special services. Fire safety arrangements therefore need to reflect both everyday use and reasonably foreseeable higher-occupancy events.

Particular consideration may be required for historic entrance and escape doors, especially where traditional locks, bolts or other ironmongery require multiple operations to open. Fire detection, emergency lighting, escape signage and other modern fire safety measures also need careful consideration where their installation could affect historically or architecturally significant interiors.

Our assessments can consider:

• Means of escape, final exits and historic door arrangements 
• Occupancy levels and occasional large events 
• Fire detection and alarm arrangements 
• Emergency lighting and escape signage 
• Towers, galleries, roof spaces and concealed voids 
• Historic timber construction and combustible contents 
• Fire compartmentation and separation 
• Electrical and heating-related fire risks 
• Management arrangements, volunteers and staff training 
• Fire and Rescue Service access and firefighting water supplies 
• Additional risks arising from community use, events or other activities 
• Sleeping accommodation or other non-standard uses, where applicable 

Recommendations are developed with regard to life safety, the use of the building and its historic significance, with the aim of achieving proportionate improvements without unnecessary intervention to significant historic fabric.

Historic hotels, guest accommodation and visitor attractions frequently require a balance between life safety, business continuity and heritage conservation.

Our consultancy services assist owners and operators with:

• Fire risk assessments
• Fire safety management systems
• Emergency planning
• Fire alarm and detection strategies
• Fire door assessments
• Staff fire safety procedures
• Compliance reviews

We understand that many heritage properties remain operational businesses and recommendations must be practical, proportionate and achievable.

We recognise that heritage buildings cannot always accommodate modern fire safety measures in the same way as new-build properties.

Where appropriate, we consider:

• Enhanced management controls
• Improved detection systems
• Alternative means of warning
• Evacuation procedures
• Compensatory fire safety measures
• Risk-based approaches aligned with heritage guidance

Our recommendations are designed to protect occupants while minimising unnecessary impact on historic fabric.

We understand that preserving historic character is often just as important as achieving compliance.

Our assessors hold recognised fire risk assessment qualifications and maintain ongoing professional development within the fire safety sector.

We focus on realistic, proportionate solutions rather than generic recommendations that may be difficult or impossible to implement within a heritage environment.

Fire safety is rarely a one-off exercise. We can provide continued consultancy support as projects develop and buildings evolve.

Our experience includes work within:

• Grade I and Grade II listed properties
• Historic churches and chapels
• Heritage guest accommodation
• Country houses and estates
• Community buildings
• Historic mixed-use premises

We understand the unique challenges these environments present and the importance of achieving a balance between life safety, compliance and conservation.

DMB Fire Safety is based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, and provides specialist heritage fire risk assessments, fire strategies and fire safety consultancy for historic and listed buildings throughout the UK.

We regularly work with owners, responsible persons, architects and other professionals responsible for churches, castles, historic houses, listed buildings, country estates, places of worship, heritage accommodation and other buildings of architectural or historic significance.

Our principal areas of coverage include:

Stoke-on-Trent • Newcastle-under-Lyme • Leek • Stafford • Lichfield • Tamworth • Burton upon Trent

Crewe • Nantwich • Congleton • Macclesfield • Northwich • Chester • Winsford

Shrewsbury • Telford • Bridgnorth • Ludlow • Market Drayton • Oswestry

Birmingham • Wolverhampton • Walsall • Dudley • Solihull • Coventry

Derby • Ashbourne • Buxton • Bakewell • Matlock • Chesterfield

Greater Manchester • Lancashire • Merseyside • Cumbria

Wrexham • Flintshire • Denbighshire • Conwy • Gwynedd • Anglesey

Our heritage consultancy is not limited to these areas. We undertake specialist heritage and historic building projects throughout the UK and are happy to travel where our experience is appropriate to the building or project.

For larger, complex or historically significant properties, please contact us to discuss the project and the fire safety services required.