Fire safety consultancy for building owners

Centurion arranges fire safety consultancy for building owners and property teams. Get help with outstanding actions, checks before you buy or occupy a building, and plans for alterations, so you can make informed decisions about the premises.

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What a fire safety consultant can help with

Some questions start with a report already on your desk. Others come up before a move or refurbishment. We arrange specialist advice for the decision you need to make.

Fire safety management reviews

A consultant reviews policies, procedures, assessments and action plans to help you see where your arrangements need attention. This can cover one building or a wider property portfolio.
Checks before purchase or occupation

Understand a building’s suitability before buying or leasing it. For new or refurbished premises, a pre-occupancy fire safety audit checks the fire precautions and reports on matters needing attention before you move in.
Plan reviews for building changes

Have proposed layouts and alterations reviewed before submission to Building Control. The review considers escape routes, fire separation, alarms and emergency lighting alongside the intended use.

Advice for your buildings and the way you use them

Managing a property portfolio

When each building has its own reports and action list, it can be hard to see where the biggest gaps are. A fire safety management review helps your property team and senior managers understand the priorities across the estate, as well as what needs attention at individual sites.

Bring the records togetherAssessments, policies and procedures show how fire safety is being managed and where information is missing.
Review outstanding actionsLook at risk levels and unfinished work so decisions about priorities have a clear basis.
Check who takes things forwardReview how site teams report progress and how property managers keep senior leaders informed.

Often paired with

Fire risk assessments

Buying, leasing or moving in

A building that suited the previous occupier may need changes for the way you plan to use it. Explain the intended use before you commit to a purchase or lease. For a new or refurbished building, a pre-occupancy audit can help you raise fire safety questions before handover.

Explain how you’ll use the spaceInclude the expected occupancy, planned layout and any changes to the way rooms will be used.
Review the fire precautionsThe review can examine escape arrangements and installed protection alongside the available building records.
Raise handover questions earlyUse the findings to discuss outstanding work with the project team before the planned move.

Often paired with

Planning alterations

Moving a partition or changing a room’s use can affect fire precautions elsewhere in the building. Share drawings while the proposals are still developing. A plan review gives your project team a chance to address fire safety issues before work begins.

Escape routes and occupancyConsider the proposed routes, travel distances and the number of people expected to use the spaces.
Fire separationCheck how changes to walls, doors and service routes affect compartmentation and fire resistance.
Alarms and emergency lightingReview what the layout means for detection, warning and lighting along escape routes.

Often paired with

Keep responsibilities and records clear

For premises covered by the Fire Safety Order in England and Wales, the responsible person must manage fire safety and keep the required records. A consultant can help you review how that works in practice.

Record the fire risk assessment and fire safety arrangements
Co-ordinate with other responsible persons in shared premises
Share fire safety information when the responsible person changes
Keep the assessment under review as the premises change

Plan reviews and approvals

A plan review helps you identify fire safety issues in a proposal. It does not replace any required Building Control approval. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different fire safety legislation.

Start with the question you need answered

Contact Centurion with the building details and what has prompted the enquiry. We arrange the specialist input and remain your point of contact.

At enquiry
Share the background

Send the site details, relevant reports or drawings, and the question you need answered. Tell us about any deadline.

You get: The building, concern and deadline identified
Before the review
Confirm the work

Discuss the documents to review, any site visits and the advice you need. Confirm the timescale and fee before work begins.

You get: The review and its fee confirmed
After the review
Discuss the findings

Talk through the findings with the consultant, clarify the recommendations and identify any further investigation needed.

You get: Findings and next actions explained
When further advice is needed
Support as the buildings change

Further reviews can help when you take on another property, change how a building is used or need to revisit outstanding actions. Tell us where your team needs ongoing support.

You get: Follow-up advice on changes and outstanding actions

Questions about fire safety consultancy

Is consultancy the same as a fire risk assessment?

No. A fire risk assessment examines the risks at premises and the precautions needed to protect people. Consultancy can help you act on existing findings, review how fire safety is managed across a portfolio or consider proposed building changes. If you need a new assessment, tell us when you enquire so it can be included as a separate piece of work.

What should I send before the first discussion?

Start with the site address, building use and the question you need help with. Existing fire risk assessments, action plans, drawings and handover records are useful, along with any proposed changes or deadlines. You don’t need to assemble every document before contacting us; we can discuss what the consultant will need.

What does a pre-occupancy fire safety audit cover?

It involves a site survey of a new or refurbished building and a review of its fire precautions against the intended use. The report identifies matters needing attention before occupation. Confirm which areas and records will be reviewed before the visit. You still need any required statutory approvals and an up-to-date fire risk assessment for the occupied premises.

Can you help after a fire service inspection?

Yes. Centurion can arrange specialist advice on the findings and the work they call for. Send the inspection report or notice, including its deadlines, so the consultant can review what needs addressing. Appointing a consultant does not suspend a notice or change its requirements.

Does appointing a consultant transfer my legal responsibility?

No. For premises covered by the Fire Safety Order in England and Wales, the responsible person retains their duties. These include making sure a suitable fire risk assessment is carried out and appropriate precautions are in place. The consultant helps with the work you have commissioned; your team still needs to act on the findings and keep arrangements under review.

How much does fire safety consultancy cost?

The fee depends on the question being investigated, the number and type of buildings, the records available and whether site visits are needed. A focused plan review involves different work from ongoing support across a portfolio. Tell us what you need help with and any deadline so we can discuss the input required and agree a fee.