If you’re planning a construction project in the City of Vancouver, understanding the local requirements for a Construction Fire Safety Plan (CFSP) is essential before your project breaks ground. Vancouver Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) enforces one of BC’s most rigorous sets of construction fire safety standards — and failing to get your plan accepted can delay your building permit.
This guide covers what you need to know about Vancouver’s CFSP requirements, when they apply, what your plan must include, and how to navigate the submission process.
The Legal Basis: BC Fire Code and Vancouver’s Fire By-law 12472
Construction fire safety in Vancouver is governed by two overlapping sets of rules:
- BC Fire Code 2024 — specifically Section 5.6, which sets province-wide standards for fire safety during construction and demolition
- City of Vancouver Fire By-law No. 12472 — Vancouver’s own bylaw that enforces and supplements provincial requirements
Vancouver’s fire bylaw applies to all building projects in the city, including buildings of non-combustible construction — a requirement that goes beyond what some other municipalities enforce. This means even concrete and steel structures require a construction fire safety plan.
When Is a Construction Fire Safety Plan Required?
A Construction Fire Safety Plan is required in Vancouver for any building project, including:
- New construction of any scale
- Major renovations and alterations
- Demolition projects
- Buildings of all construction types — wood-frame, non-combustible, hybrid
For buildings 5 or 6 storeys of combustible or hybrid construction, your CFSP must be submitted to VFRS and accepted before a building permit will be issued. For other project types, the plan must be in place and ready for inspection before construction begins.
What Must Your Plan Include?
VFRS requires that your Construction Fire Safety Plan be site-specific and cover the following:
Personnel and Contacts
- Site address and legal description
- General contractor name and contact
- Site supervisor name with 24/7 emergency contact information
- Owner and project manager contact details
- A designated Fire Safety Coordinator responsible for the plan on-site
Fire Hazard Controls
- Hot work permit system — procedures for cutting, welding, grinding, and open flame operations
- Smoking restrictions and designated smoking areas
- Combustible refuse storage and removal schedule
- Flammable and combustible liquid and gas storage controls
- Management of temporary heating equipment
Fire Protection Equipment
- Location and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers
- Progressive installation of standpipe systems (for multi-storey construction)
- Fire alarm system provisions and temporary alarm systems
- Testing and inspection logs for all fire protection equipment
Site Plans
Your CFSP must include a site plan showing:
- Site address visible from the street
- Location of fire hydrants and dry standpipe connections
- Fire department vehicle access routes
- Emergency access points and temporary exit routes
- Tower crane location, height, and swing radius (if applicable)
- Electrical shutoff locations
Emergency Procedures
- Alarm response procedures
- Fire department notification procedures
- Evacuation procedures for all site personnel
- Designated muster point location
The Submission Process
Your completed CFSP must be submitted to the VFRS Plan Review Division (Fire Prevention Office) for review and acceptance. Once approved, VFRS stamps the plan as “accepted” — and a hardcopy of the stamped plan must be kept in a Fire Safety Plan box at the principal entrance of the construction site.
The FSP box must be clearly labelled and accessible to fire department personnel at all times. For buildings requiring permit-stage review, your CFSP must be submitted alongside — or prior to — your building permit application. Allow adequate time for plan review, especially on complex or high-rise projects.
Submission contact:
VFRS Fire Prevention Division
📍 507 W Broadway, Vancouver BC V5Z 1E1
📞 604-873-7500
🌐 vancouver.ca/fire-safety
Your CFSP Is a Living Document
One important requirement specific to Vancouver: the BC Fire Code and VFRS both treat the Construction Fire Safety Plan as a living document. As construction phases progress — from excavation through framing, mechanical rough-in, envelope closure, and interior finishing — your plan must be updated to reflect current site conditions.
This means your initial accepted plan is not a one-time submission. You are responsible for maintaining an up-to-date plan on-site throughout the duration of the project.
Fire Watch Requirements
For projects involving hot work or where fire protection systems are impaired, VFRS may require a fire watch — a designated person who monitors for signs of fire during and after the at-risk activity. Fire watch requirements apply:
- During and for a minimum period after hot work (typically 1 hour minimum)
- When sprinkler systems are temporarily out of service
- After high-risk construction activities in fire-risk conditions
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Operating a construction site without a VFRS-accepted Construction Fire Safety Plan is a violation of Vancouver’s Fire By-law 12472 and the BC Fire Code. Consequences include:
- Building permit delays or denial (for permit-stage submissions)
- Stop-work orders issued by VFRS or the City
- Fines and penalties under the bylaw
- Increased liability exposure in the event of a fire or incident on-site
Who Can Prepare a Vancouver CFSP?
Under Vancouver’s Fire By-law and VFRS guidelines, a Construction Fire Safety Plan may be prepared by:
- The general contractor or owner’s representative
- A fire safety plan professional or consultant
- Any person familiar with the requirements of the bylaw and BC Fire Code Section 5.6
In practice, experienced fire safety plan preparers understand how to meet VFRS’s formatting expectations and what level of detail the plan review team requires — reducing the risk of rejection and re-submission delays.
Why Professional Preparation Matters in Vancouver
Vancouver is one of BC’s most actively developing municipalities, and VFRS processes a high volume of construction fire safety plans each year. Their plan review team is thorough — plans that lack site-specific details, have incomplete contact information, or use generic template language are frequently returned for revision.
A professionally prepared CFSP — genuinely specific to your site, your team, and your construction sequence — moves through VFRS review faster and reduces the risk of permit delays.
Get a Construction Fire Safety Plan for Your Vancouver Project
Get Fire Plan specializes in Construction Fire Safety Plans for BC construction sites, including Vancouver and the surrounding Lower Mainland. Our plans are CAD-designed and site-specific, prepared by experienced BC fire safety professionals, accepted by VFRS and all BC fire departments, priced upfront with no hidden fees, and guaranteed to receive fire department acceptance.
We handle everything from the initial site assessment through submission to VFRS — so you can focus on your project.
👉 View our Vancouver construction fire safety plan services →
📞 778-574-2895 | contactus@getfireplan.com
Need a construction fire safety plan in Vancouver?
Firm quote within one business day, drafts in 5–7 business days, no site visit required, approval guaranteed — anywhere in BC.
Guides: BC Fire Code requirements · What a CFSP costs · How long it takes · What a plan must include