Accurate survey data for fire safety and building height compliance
Fire safety documentation and building height surveys are two of the most compliance-critical outputs an architectural team can produce, and two of the most sensitive to inaccuracy. A fire safety plan drawn from imprecise measurements, or a building height figure derived from manual survey rather than verified data, can create problems with insurers, planning authorities, and building safety regulators that are expensive and time-consuming to resolve.
BTG Eddisons produces fire safety plans and building height surveys using 3D laser scanning technology, capturing survey data at a level of precision that manual measurement cannot reliably achieve. Both services are delivered by our architectural design team, led by Nick Rymer, Director and Head of Design, who acts as CDM Principal Designer and Contract Administrator across capital projects from our Leeds office.
Call 0800 051 2593, email [email protected], or complete our contact form further down the page to discuss your requirements.
Fire safety plans
What is a fire safety plan?
A fire safety plan is a set of scaled drawings that document the fire safety provisions within a building, including escape routes, fire doors, suppression systems, alarm call points, compartmentation boundaries, and means of raising the alarm.
They are used by building owners and managers to demonstrate compliance with fire safety obligations, support fire risk assessments, and provide the documentation required by insurers, responsible persons, and, where relevant, the fire and rescue authority.
Who needs a fire safety plan?
Fire safety plans are required across a wide range of building types and ownership situations. Common triggers include:
- Building owners responding to recommendations arising from a formal fire risk assessment.
- Landlords with compliance obligations under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, particularly in multi-occupancy commercial or residential buildings.
- Insurers requiring documented fire safety provisions as a condition of cover or renewal.
- Building managers preparing or updating a fire safety case for a higher-risk building under the Building Safety Act 2022.
- Occupiers fitting out a new space where fire safety provisions need to be documented as part of the works.
Fall under one of these categories?
Get in touch by calling 0800 051 2593, emailing [email protected], or completing our contact form to arrange a no-obligation consultation.
Why does accuracy matter in a fire safety plan?
A fire safety plan is only as reliable as the survey data it is built on. Plans drawn from manual measurement, outdated as-built drawings, or architectural drawings that do not reflect what was actually built carry a risk of inaccuracy that can have real consequences. For example, a fire door shown in the wrong location, a compartmentation line incorrectly drawn, or an escape route dimension that does not match the physical building.
Our team uses 3D laser scanning technology to capture the existing building as it actually is, producing a point cloud model that gives a precise, verifiable basis for all fire safety documentation. The result is a set of drawings that building owners, insurers, and regulators can rely on.
Building height surveys
What is a building height survey?
A building height survey is a precise measurement of a building's height, from ground level to the highest point of the structure, carried out to a defined methodology and documented in a format suitable for planning, regulatory, or insurance purposes. The measurement itself is straightforward; the precision and methodology are what matter.
When is a building height survey needed?
Building height has become an increasingly significant factor in compliance and regulatory decisions following changes to the building safety framework in England. Common triggers for commissioning a building height survey include:
- Planning conditions or pre-commencement requirements specifying that building height must be verified and recorded.
- Fire safety strategy requirements, where the height of a building determines the applicable regulatory regime and the fire safety measures required.
- Insurance requirements, where a precise height figure is needed to support underwriting or to satisfy conditions attached to a policy.
- High-rise and multi-occupancy building compliance, particularly for buildings meeting the 18-metre or seven-storey thresholds introduced under the Building Safety Act 2022.
- Disputes or queries about whether a building falls within a particular regulatory category, where an independently verified height measurement is required.
Laser scanning and building height
Where a building height survey is commissioned alongside fire safety documentation, both outputs can be derived from the same 3D laser scan data, giving you a single mobilisation, a single site visit, and a consistent, verified dataset that supports both deliverables. This is the approach our team takes where both are required, and it is more efficient and more reliable than commissioning two separate surveys using different methodologies.
Why BTG Eddisons for fire safety and building height surveys?
- RICS-regulated at firm level, with all survey and design work delivered to recognised professional standards.
- 3D laser scanning capability, producing precise, verifiable survey data as the basis for fire safety plans and building height documentation.
- Led by Nick Rymer, Director and Head of Design, with 30 years of experience across development and project delivery and a genuine CDM Principal Designer role across capital projects.
- Part of BTG Eddisons' wider architectural design capability. Our fire safety and building height work can be integrated with measured surveys, Land Registry and lease plans, and broader design and planning services without the need to appoint multiple firms.
- Over 180 years of commercial property experience, with 550 brilliant people across 35 offices covering every major commercial property market in the UK.
- Proven track record evidenced by our case studies and client reviews.
Speak to our architectural design team
To discuss a fire safety plan or building height survey for your building, call 0800 051 2593, email [email protected], or complete the form below. Nick Rymer and the architectural design team will be happy to advise on scope, timescale, and the right approach for your building.
Get in touch with the BTG Eddisons team
Please contact us for more details and information.
Frequently asked questions about fire safety and building height surveys
Do I need a fire safety plan if I already have a fire risk assessment?
A fire risk assessment and a fire safety plan are different documents. A fire risk assessment identifies and evaluates fire risks in a building and sets out the measures needed to manage them.
A fire safety plan is a set of drawings that documents the physical fire safety provisions in a format that can be used alongside the risk assessment, shared with insurers, and provided to the fire and rescue authority if required. Many buildings need both.
