Fire Safety Consultancy & Risk Assessment

Understanding the fire risks in your building is the foundation of every effective fire safety strategy. A fire risk assessment (FRA) conducted by a competent, independent consultant identifies the hazards that could cause a fire, the people who would be at risk if a fire occurred, the adequacy of existing precautions, and the actions needed to reduce risk to an acceptable level. Kenya's OSHA 2007 and the Fire Risk Reduction Rules 2007 require employers and responsible persons to assess fire risks and act on the findings — the FRA is both a legal obligation and the document that defines what fire safety measures your building actually needs. Lance Security provides independent fire safety consultancy to property developers, building owners, facility managers, architects, and corporate occupiers throughout Kenya.

Fire Risk Assessment (FRA)

A fire risk assessment is a systematic evaluation of your building conducted by a qualified fire safety practitioner. It is not a paperwork exercise — it involves a physical inspection of the premises followed by a structured analysis and a written report with findings and recommendations. Our FRA methodology follows BS PD 7974-0 and NFPA 550, adapted for Kenya's regulatory environment:

Step 1 — Identify Fire Hazards

We identify sources of ignition (heat from electrical equipment, open flames, hot surfaces, smoking materials), sources of fuel (combustible materials, flammable liquids, accumulated waste), and sources of oxygen (air supply, oxidising materials) within your building. We note how these elements could come together to start a fire.

Step 2 — Identify People at Risk

We identify all occupants who could be at risk if a fire occurs — paying particular attention to people who are especially vulnerable: sleeping occupants in hotels and hospitals, persons with disabilities or mobility impairments, members of the public unfamiliar with the building layout, and lone workers who might not hear an alarm.

Step 3 — Evaluate, Remove, and Reduce Risks

We evaluate the risk to each identified group from each identified hazard, taking into account the adequacy of existing fire precautions (detection, suppression, escape routes, training). We recommend specific measures to eliminate or reduce hazards, improve physical precautions, and enhance management procedures.

Step 4 — Record, Plan, Inform & Train

We produce a written FRA report documenting findings, risk ratings, and a prioritised action plan. We can assist with implementing the required actions — from procuring fire extinguishers to installing fire alarm systems — and with preparing the fire safety policy, emergency evacuation plan, and staff training programme that the FRA requires.

Fire Strategy Reports

Property developers and architects submitting plans for new buildings or change-of-use applications to county governments need a fire safety strategy report as part of the planning and building approval package. A fire strategy report explains how the building is designed to satisfy the fire safety objectives of the Kenya Building Code — through structural fire resistance, compartmentation, means of escape design, and active protection systems. Lance Security prepares fire strategy reports to support planning applications, building permit submissions, and fire safety certificate applications, working directly with your design team to integrate fire safety into the architectural design from the outset rather than retrospectively retrofitting compliance.

Emergency Evacuation Plans

An emergency evacuation plan (EEP) describes how the building will be evacuated in the event of a fire — who does what, by when, and how. We prepare site-specific EEPs that include floor plans showing escape routes, assembly points, and fire equipment locations; fire warden responsibilities; procedures for persons with disabilities; liaison procedures with the fire brigade; and post-evacuation roll-call and accountability procedures. EEPs are required by OSHA 2007 for all workplaces and must be communicated to all employees and regularly practised through drills.

Fire Safety Policy

We draft comprehensive written fire safety policies for organisations that need to demonstrate management commitment to fire safety — a requirement for corporate compliance, insurance purposes, and DOSHS inspections. The policy defines responsibilities, maintenance schedules, training requirements, and the management framework that ensures fire safety is actively managed rather than passively assumed.

Whether you are a developer seeking planning approval, a facility manager preparing for a DOSHS inspection, or an occupier who simply wants to know whether your building is safe, Lance Security provides the independent, expert fire safety consultancy you need. Contact us to discuss your consultancy requirements or request a fire risk assessment quotation.