PF Firesoft was commissioned by a local authority to develop a series of Emergency Response Plans for several newly constructed low-rise residential blocks of flats.

Our team carried out a comprehensive site survey, reviewed the fire safety strategy document, and worked closely with both the client and the developer. This process enabled us to produce a detailed plan incorporating essential building information, firefighting strategies, and clear evacuation procedures.

The final plan was very well received by the client and has been praised for its clarity, accuracy, and effectiveness in supporting emergency response operations.

Our client commissioned us to develop an Emergency Response Plan for a seven-storey residential block of 161 self-contained flats. The building, originally an industrial property, had been converted into five separate cores, each with its own entrance, and shared access to a central courtyard and underground car park.

The survey stage presented several unique challenges, including:

• A lack of accurate base drawings
• Multiple staircases and lift shafts
• Irregularly shaped corridors
• Split-level layouts within some cores

Working closely with the client, our survey team carried out an initial survey to produce accurate base drawings. Once these were transferred into CAD, a second, more detailed survey was undertaken to annotate the plans with:

• Known fire compartmentation
• Communal areas and circulation routes
• Firefighting facilities
• Smoke control systems
• The building’s evacuation strategy

Each core was colour-coded to make the overall layout clearer and easier to interpret.

The final Emergency Response Plan transformed a complex building into a set of clear, intuitive drawings that are easy to navigate and understand.