Getting your construction fire safety plan approved the first time requires more than filling in a template — it requires knowing exactly what BC fire departments look for during their review. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the most common review criteria and the issues that lead to rejection.
The Review Process
When you submit a construction fire safety plan, it goes to the fire prevention office of the local fire department. A fire prevention officer (FPO) reviews the plan against the BC Fire Code requirements and the department’s own submission standards. The review typically takes 3–10 business days, depending on the municipality and their workload.
If the plan is compliant, the FPO stamps and approves it. If there are deficiencies, you’ll receive a notice listing the required changes — and the clock starts again.
What Fire Departments Check
1. The CAD Site Plan
The site plan is the most scrutinized element of any construction fire safety plan. Fire departments look for:
- Scale and accuracy: The plan must be drawn to scale and accurately reflect the current site layout — not a generic drawing.
- Fire hydrant locations: All hydrants within a specified distance of the site must be shown, with distances to the building marked.
- Fire department access routes: The plan must show clear, unobstructed routes for fire apparatus to approach and position around the building. Routes must meet minimum width requirements (typically 6 metres).
- Evacuation assembly area: A designated assembly area far enough from the building and the fire department staging area.
- Fire extinguisher locations: The plan must show where extinguishers are positioned on site.
- Standpipe connections: For multi-storey projects, the location of temporary standpipe connections for firefighting operations.
Plans that use hand-drawn sketches, satellite imagery overlays, or modified floor plans instead of proper CAD drawings are frequently rejected or flagged for revision.
2. Emergency Procedures
Fire departments want to see that your plan addresses real scenarios, not generic descriptions. Common deficiencies include:
- Vague procedures that don’t describe specific actions (“call 911” is not enough)
- Missing procedures for impaired fire systems
- No defined role for the site superintendent during a fire event
- Assembly area that conflicts with fire department access routes
3. Hot Work Procedures
Hot work is closely scrutinized because it’s a leading cause of construction fires. Reviewers check that:
- A formal permit system is described (not just “get permission from foreman”)
- Fire watch duration meets BC Fire Code minimums (typically 30–60 minutes after work ends)
- Clearance distances from combustibles are specified
- The fire watch role is clearly defined with responsibilities
4. Fire Suppression Equipment
Plans must specify extinguisher types (typically 2A-10BC rated minimum), quantities based on site area, and placement. Many reviewers apply a maximum travel distance rule — the nearest extinguisher should be reachable within 23 metres from any point on the site. Under-specifying extinguisher quantities is a very common deficiency.
5. Site Superintendent Information
The plan must identify a named individual responsible for fire safety on site — typically the general superintendent. Some fire departments require contact information for two individuals in case the primary contact is unavailable. Generic titles without names are frequently flagged.
Municipality-Specific Requirements
Beyond the BC Fire Code baseline, individual fire departments have their own requirements. Vancouver Fire Rescue Services requires the CFSD appointment form with each submission. Surrey Fire Service has specific access route documentation requirements. North Vancouver has requirements related to fire department notification procedures for occupied adjacent buildings.
This is why copying a plan from a previous project in a different municipality — even if that plan was approved — often results in rejection.
How Get Fire Plan Achieves a 100% Approval Rate
Our team prepares plans daily for BC fire departments and knows exactly what each department’s reviewers look for. We prepare site-specific CAD drawings to proper scale, complete all required sections based on your municipality’s current standards, and include all required forms and attachments in each submission. We provide a draft for your review before submitting, and we handle all deficiency responses at no additional charge.
Ready for a plan that gets approved the first time? Contact Get Fire Plan for a quote.
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Guides: BC Fire Code requirements · What a CFSP costs · How long it takes · What a plan must include