195 - Fire Safety Cases with Chris Mayfield and Martyn Ramsden

The UK"s Building Safety Act requires high-risk buildings to maintain comprehensive fire safety cases - living documents that identify hazards, mitigate risks, and establish clear accountability for building safety. This is the subject of my discussion with Chris Mayfield and Martyn Ramsden from OFR. • Safety cases differ from fire strategies by being owned by the building"s accountable person rather than consultants • The Principal Accountable Person must take responsibility for preventing fire spread and structural failure • Safety cases must document hazards, protective measures, and management systems • The approach draws from lessons in high-hazard industries following disasters like Piper Alpha • Safety cases should follow a logical structure: building description, safety management, hazard identification, safety measures, emergency procedures, and conclusions • Bow tie diagrams help visualise threats, consequences, and barriers in a way all stakeholders can understand • For new buildings, safety cases integrate with the "gateway" approval system • Existing high-risk buildings (over 18m/7 stories with 2+ dwellings) must have safety cases ready for inspection • When properly implemented, safety cases create cultural change by helping everyone understand their role in safety ---- The Fire Science Show is produced by the Fire Science Media in collaboration with OFR Consultants. Thank you to the podcast sponsor for their continuous support towards our mission.