Construction sites are a high fire risk: hot work, temporary electrics, stored materials, rubbish and buildings that don't yet have their fire protection in place.
The Law
- Great Britain – the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, known as CDM 2015.
- Northern Ireland – the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016.
They require site managers to:
- prevent the risk of fire and explosion,
- have emergency procedures and test them,
- keep emergency routes and exits clear, signed and lit where needed, and
- provide fire detection and firefighting equipment, keep it maintained, accessible and signed, and train workers to use it.
General fire safety law also applies, and the principal contractor is usually the person responsible:
- England and Wales – the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
- Scotland – the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006
- Northern Ireland – the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010
On construction sites, fire safety is enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in Great Britain and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI). The HSE's free guide HSG168 Fire safety in construction is the main official guidance for the whole UK.
Plan Before You Start
- Carry out a fire risk assessment for the site, and update it as the work moves on.
- Design out risks early – for example, install permanent fire doors, fire separation and fire alarms as soon as possible.
- Timber frame buildings need significant extra precautions while they're being built.
Raising the Alarm
The alarm must be loud enough to be heard over site noise, and everyone must recognise it. Depending on the size of the site, that could be a wireless temporary fire alarm system, klaxons, air horns or even whistles on a small site.
Fire Points
A site fire point usually has:
- extinguishers to suit the risks on site,
- a means of raising the alarm, such as a call point,
- a fire action notice, and
- a stand or cabinet to keep it all together. See Extinguisher Stands, Brackets and Cabinets.
Check fire points regularly – equipment goes missing on busy sites.
Escape Routes
- Provide two separate escape routes where possible, and keep them clear.
- Sign routes and the assembly point, and light them where needed.
- Brief everyone on the fire plan at induction, and hold fire drills.
Housekeeping and Hot Work
- Remove rubbish regularly, and keep skips away from the building.
- Store gas cylinders and flammable liquids securely, outside where possible.
- Use a hot work permit system. See Hot Work Permits: What They Are and When You Need One.
- Secure the site against arson. See Arson Prevention for Businesses.
The Joint Code of Practice
Insurers often require larger projects to follow the Joint Code of Practice, Fire Prevention on Construction Sites, published by RISCAuthority and the Fire Protection Association. The current version is the 10th edition, last amended in 2025. It applies to projects worth £2.5 million or more, and smaller projects if the insurer or contract says so. It sets out detailed rules on hot work, temporary buildings and site security.
Worth remembering… your fire risk assessment is what decides what your premises need. This guide is general advice, not a substitute for it.
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