Chartered engineering, UK wide
Fire Engineering
AL23 Safety delivers fire engineering in-house with chartered engineer capability, not outsourced to a third party. We apply science and engineering principles to design buildings that are safe, compliant and practical to build, from concept design through to handover and into occupation, anywhere in the UK.
A process that works
Fire safety shaped into the design, not bolted on
Design in
We work alongside architects and design teams from concept so fire safety shapes the design rather than fighting it later.
Solve the complex
Where standard guidance does not fit the building, we use engineered analysis to answer the questions others get stuck on.
Assure compliance
We produce the clear documentation and justification that Building Control and the Fire Authority need to give their approval.
Why it matters
Beyond standard guidance, balancing safety, function and cost
Fire engineering looks at how a building actually performs in a real fire. Used well, it does four things.
Enables design flexibility
It lets you overcome space and layout constraints while keeping the building safe.
Optimises cost
A justified, risk-based design avoids paying for fire protection you do not need.
Supports Building Control approval
It provides performance-based evidence that meets or exceeds the requirements of Approved Document B.
Protects occupants
It models realistic evacuation and smoke movement so the design holds up under the conditions that matter.
Our services at a glance
The full breadth of fire engineering, in one team
- Fire strategy reportsBespoke strategies tailored to your building’s design, use and occupancy.
- Means of escape and evacuation analysisEffective escape routes for everyone in the building, including occupants who need extra support to evacuate.
- Smoke control and ventilationAssessing and optimising smoke control systems for safe escape and for fire service access.
- Structural fire engineeringAdvice on the fire resistance of structural elements, supporting both compliant new design and the assessment of existing buildings.
- CFD and evacuation modellingComputational fluid dynamics to simulate smoke and fire spread and evacuation modelling to test how people get out.
- Code compliance and engineered alternativesSatisfying the Building Regulations, including Approved Document B and providing justified engineered solutions where a standard approach does not fit.
- Building Control and Fire Authority engagementClear documentation and justification to help secure approval, with the conversations handled on your behalf.
Our engineers work with design teams, project managers and contractors so fire safety is built into every stage of a building’s life cycle.
Our process
A structured, evidence-based approach
Analysis, modelling and collaboration, in five steps.
- 1
Consultation
We understand the project goals, the challenges and the design constraints.
- 2
Data and design review
We analyse the building layouts, the materials and the intended use.
- 3
Modelling and analysis
We use recognised modelling tools to predict how the building will perform.
- 4
Reporting and justification
We produce detailed reports with supporting calculations, drawings and code references.
- 5
Stakeholder coordination
We engage with architects, design teams and the authorities to secure acceptance and compliance.
The standards we work to
Grounded in the recognised UK framework
BS 7974
Sets out the framework for applying fire safety engineering principles to building design, which is the basis of a performance-based approach.
BS 9999 and BS 9991
The codes of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings, with BS 9991 covering residential buildings.
Approved Document B
The statutory guidance supporting the Building Regulations. Our engineered solutions are written to meet or exceed it.
Building Safety Act 2022
For higher-risk buildings, we work within the regime, supporting the gateway process and the golden thread the safety case depends on.
Who delivers this
Your work is led by a chartered engineer with deep technical knowledge and real experience in complex buildings. Because the engineering is in-house, the hard questions stay with us rather than being passed to a third party, which keeps your project moving. We combine technical rigour with pragmatism so the solution is safe and buildable, not just correct on paper.
Why AL23 Safety
Engineered in-house, not subcontracted
In-house chartered engineering. Delivered by our own engineer, not subcontracted.
Independent, practical advice. Grounded in real buildings, not just guidance documents.
Proportionate guidance. Support for innovation without compromising safety.
Complex buildings. Experience across residential, commercial, mixed-use, higher-risk and multi-occupancy schemes.
UK nationwide. Wherever your project is, we can support it.
Fire engineering knowledge hub
Common questions, answered
What is fire engineering?
Fire engineering applies science, data and engineering principles to design buildings that achieve an equal or better level of fire safety than standard code guidance would give. It allows safe, flexible and cost-efficient solutions for complex designs where a simple code comparison does not fit.
When is fire engineering needed?
It is most useful where a building is large, complex, unusual or higher-risk or where the design pushes beyond what standard guidance covers, for example open-plan layouts, atria, long travel distances, mixed uses or tall residential buildings. It is also valuable when you want to justify removing protection measures that the building does not actually need.
How does fire engineering differ from a fire strategy?
A fire strategy is the document that sets out how fire safety is achieved in a particular building. Fire engineering is the broader discipline that applies engineering analysis to fire safety problems. Fire engineering often produces or underpins the fire strategy, especially where the building needs a performance-based, engineered approach rather than a straight code solution.
Which standards guide fire engineering in the UK?
The main references are BS 7974 for the fire safety engineering framework, BS 9999 and BS 9991 as codes of practice and Approved Document B as the statutory guidance to the Building Regulations. For higher-risk buildings, the Building Safety Act 2022 regime also applies.
What modelling tools are used in fire engineering?
Computational fluid dynamics is used to model how smoke and fire spread through a space and evacuation modelling is used to test how quickly and safely people can get out. We use recognised software and apply engineering judgement to the results rather than relying on the model alone.
Can fire engineering reduce construction costs?
Often, yes. A justified, risk-based design can remove unnecessary fire protection and unlock more usable space, which can offset the cost of the engineering work several times over. The aim is always the right level of safety, not the cheapest but the right level is frequently more efficient than a blanket prescriptive approach.
How does fire engineering support Building Control approval?
It provides the performance-based evidence, calculations and clear justification that Building Control and the Fire Authority need to accept a design. We prepare that documentation and engage with the authorities directly to help secure approval.
Do you provide performance-based fire engineering reports?
Yes. We produce detailed, performance-based reports with the supporting analysis, drawings and code references needed to demonstrate compliance and support approval.
What types of buildings benefit most from fire engineering?
Complex, high-rise, higher-risk and multi-occupancy buildings benefit most, along with any scheme where the architecture, the use or the occupancy makes a standard code solution awkward, costly or impossible.
Let us help with your project
From concept design to a problem on an existing building
Our chartered engineering can help you find a solution that is safe, compliant and buildable. Get in touch and we will get back to you quickly.
Common questions
Answers, up front
Cannot see your question? Get in touch and we will answer it directly.
Contact usFire engineering applies engineering principles to fire safety design. Instead of following standard prescriptive guidance alone, it uses analysis and modelling to show that a building is safe, which is often the better route for large, complex or unusual buildings.
Yes. We have in-house chartered engineering capability and handle performance based fire engineering directly rather than passing it to a third party. This keeps your fire strategy joined up with the rest of your fire and safety work.
A standard fire risk assessment suits most existing buildings. You are more likely to need fire engineering when a building is large, complex or unusual, when prescriptive guidance does not fit or when a performance based design is needed to satisfy building control.
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