Fire safety, commercial and domestic planning applications

If the application involves the construction of a building you will be required to provide reasonable facilities for the fire service. In most circumstances, this will mean providing vehicular access for fire appliances.

Before finalising any scheme, developers are advised to consult the following two documents for full details of emergency fire appliance access:

• Building regulations - approved document B
• Warwickshire County Council guide 2001 - transport and roads for developments

Further information on compliance with these documents may be sought from the building control department of your local borough council or an approved inspector.

It is important to remember that failure to do so may prevent you from obtaining a completion certificate under the building regulations but more importantly, the lives of the occupiers will be put at risk.

Table 1: Typical fire service access route specifications