Fire Safety Plan
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Your Building’s Fire Safety PlaybookA Fire Safety Plan is one of the most important tools for managing fire and life safety in a building. It brings together your emergency procedures, fire protection systems, staff responsibilities, fire drills, maintenance requirements and response to system impairments in one building-specific plan. A good Fire Safety Plan isn't something that should sit forgotten in a binder. It should help the people responsible for your building understand what fire safety measures are in place, what they need to do to maintain them, and what to do when something goes wrong. Where required, Fire Safety Plans must be prepared, implemented and maintained in accordance with the BC Fire Code and applicable City of Chilliwack bylaw requirements. |
Do I Need a Fire Safety Plan?
More buildings require a Fire Safety Plan than you might think.
The BC Fire Code establishes when Fire Safety Plans are required. As a general rule, if your building is equipped with a fire alarm or sprinkler system, you should expect that a Fire Safety Plan may be required.
Fire Safety Plans may also be required because of the occupancy, use, activity or hazards associated with a property.
Requirements may apply to:
- Buildings equipped with fire alarm or sprinkler systems
- Daycares
- Certain commercial, industrial, residential and assembly occupancies
- Operations involving specific hazards or processes
- Certain hot work activities
- Construction, alteration and demolition sites
- Other buildings, occupancies or activities identified by the BC Fire Code or applicable City of Chilliwack bylaws
Not sure if you need one? Don't assume that you don't. Building owners and operators are responsible for understanding the requirements that apply to their property and activities. Review the applicable requirements or contact [email protected] for guidance.
Why Your Fire Safety Plan Matters
Think of your Fire Safety Plan as the operating manual for fire safety in your building.
It should answer practical questions such as:
Who does what during an emergency?
Who calls 911? What are the evacuation procedures? What responsibilities do supervisory staff have?
What fire protection systems are in the building?
What systems and equipment are provided and what needs to be inspected, tested and maintained?
What happens when a system fails?
Who contacts the service provider? What procedures apply during an impairment? Is a Fire Watch required?
How do we prepare before an emergency?
What fire drills and staff training are required? What hazards need to be controlled?
The value of a Fire Safety Plan isn't simply having the document — it's having a plan that is current, understood and actually used.
What Should a Fire Safety Plan Include?
The contents of a Fire Safety Plan will depend on the building, occupancy and activities taking place.
A plan may include:
- Emergency procedures
- Responsibilities of owners and supervisory staff
- Procedures for notifying the Fire Department
- Evacuation procedures
- Fire drill requirements
- Procedures for controlling fire hazards
- Information about fire protection systems and equipment
- Inspection, testing and maintenance requirements
- Procedures for fire protection system shutdowns and impairments
- Fire Watch procedures
- Building-specific fire protection features
- Records and documentation required by the BC Fire Code
Your Fire Safety Plan should be specific to your building rather than simply a generic template. We recommend that you reach out to a fire protection company to have a Fire Safety Plan custom built for your buildings needs.
Your Responsibilities
Preparing the Fire Safety Plan is only the beginning.
Building owners and property representatives are responsible for ensuring the plan is implemented, maintained and kept current.
This includes ensuring:
- The plan reflects the current building, occupancy and operations.
- Designated supervisory staff understand their responsibilities.
- Emergency procedures are established and communicated.
- Required fire drills are conducted and documented.
- Fire protection systems and equipment are inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with the BC Fire Code and applicable City of Chilliwack bylaw requirements.
- Required records are maintained.
- Procedures are followed when fire protection systems are impaired.
- Changes affecting the Fire Safety Plan are incorporated into the document.
Your Fire Safety Plan Is a Living Document
Buildings change — and Fire Safety Plans need to change with them.
Review your Fire Safety Plan regularly and whenever there are significant changes to:
- Building use or occupancy
- Tenants or operators
Building layout - Fire alarm, sprinkler or other fire protection systems
- Emergency procedures
- Supervisory staff
- Owner or property management contact information
- Processes, equipment or activities that introduce new fire hazards
If your Fire Safety Plan no longer reflects how your building actually operates, it needs to be updated.
Fire Drills & Supervisory Staff
A Fire Safety Plan only works when the people responsible for carrying it out know what to do.
Where required, fire drills must be conducted at the intervals established by the BC Fire Code, and appropriate records should be maintained.
Supervisory staff should understand their assigned responsibilities before an emergency occurs.
Fire Protection System Impairments
Your Fire Safety Plan should establish what happens when a required fire protection system is impaired or taken out of service.
If your fire alarm, sprinkler or other required fire protection system isn't operating normally, contact an appropriately qualified fire protection service provider and follow the procedures established in your Fire Safety Plan.
Depending on the nature and extent of the impairment, additional temporary safety measures or a Fire Watch may be required.
See: Fire Protection Equipment - Out of Service for more information.
Inspection, Testing & Maintenance
Fire protection systems and equipment must be inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with the BC Fire Code and applicable City of Chilliwack bylaw requirements.
Activity & Industry-Specific Requirements
Some operations and activities may require additional or specific fire safety planning.
Requirements may apply to certain:
- Hot Works
- Industrial Processes
- Hazardous Operations
- Special Occupancies
- Daycares
- Construction Activities
Requirements will vary depending on the property, occupancy and activity being conducted.
Know before you start. Owners, operators, contractors and employers should complete their due diligence and determine what BC Fire Code and City of Chilliwack requirements apply to their building, occupancy and activities.
Where Should the Fire Safety Plan Be Kept?
Your Fire Safety Plan should be maintained in its designated location and readily available to supervisory staff and the Chilliwack Fire Department.
Staff who have responsibilities under the plan should know where it is located and how to access it.