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.