What Fire Safety Documentation Covers
Fire safety documentation is the paper trail that proves a building can protect its occupants. It encompasses the fire licence issued by the authority, design certificates for fire protection systems, test and commissioning records for alarms and suppression, and ongoing inspection and maintenance logs. Without this documentation, there is no verifiable evidence that life safety systems work as intended.
Fire Licence
Why It Matters
Fire is the single most immediate life-safety threat in occupied buildings. In Bangladesh, the Rana Plaza collapse in 2013 and numerous garment factory fires have driven regulatory focus on fire compliance. Multinational corporations conducting pre-lease or acquisition due diligence will always request fire documentation as a first-order requirement. Insurance underwriters base premium calculations and coverage decisions on the quality of fire safety evidence. A building without proper fire documentation is, from a professional standpoint, an uninsurable and unleasable asset.
Key Documents
Fire Licence (FSCD): Issued by the Fire Service and Civil Defence of Bangladesh. Required for all commercial, industrial, and assembly occupancies. Must be renewed annually. The licence confirms that FSCD has inspected the premises and found fire safety measures acceptable. The original licence should be displayed at the main entrance.
Fire Protection System Design Certificate: A document from the fire protection engineer or contractor confirming that the fire alarm, sprinkler, hydrant, and suppression systems were designed in accordance with applicable standards (NFPA 13, NFPA 72, or BNBC Part 4). Should include hydraulic calculations for sprinkler systems and battery backup calculations for fire alarm panels.
Commissioning Certificates: Test records from the initial commissioning of fire alarm panels, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, fire pumps, hydrant systems, and kitchen hood suppression systems. Each certificate should state the standard tested against, pass/fail results, the testing entity, and the date.
Annual Inspection Reports: Fire extinguisher inspection tags (monthly visual, annual maintenance per NFPA 10), sprinkler system inspection reports (quarterly/annual per NFPA 25), fire alarm panel test reports, emergency lighting test records, and fire door inspection logs.
Fire Drill Records: Documentation of fire evacuation drills including date, time, number of participants, evacuation time achieved, assembly point verification, and corrective actions identified. BNBC and most corporate standards require at least two drills per year.
Fire Risk Assessment: A formal assessment identifying fire hazards, people at risk, existing controls, and recommended improvements. Should be reviewed annually or whenever significant changes occur to the building layout or occupancy.
What to Inspect
Check that fire extinguishers have current inspection tags and are not expired. Verify sprinkler heads are not painted, obstructed, or corroded. Confirm fire alarm panel shows normal status with no fault indicators. Inspect fire doors for self-closing function, intact seals, and no wedging. Verify emergency exit signs are illuminated and exit routes are unobstructed. Check fire pump room for test records posted on the wall.
Common Gaps in Bangladesh
Many buildings in Dhaka have a fire licence but lack the underlying system certificates. Fire alarm panels may be installed but never properly commissioned or regularly tested. Sprinkler systems, where they exist, often lack hydraulic calculation documentation. Fire extinguishers are frequently past their expiry dates or have not been serviced. Fire doors are commonly wedged open or have been modified to remove self-closing mechanisms. Emergency lighting batteries are often dead.
Questions to Ask
- Is the fire licence current and displayed? When was it last renewed?
- Can you provide commissioning certificates for the fire alarm and sprinkler systems?
- What standard were the fire protection systems designed to (NFPA 13, BNBC, or other)?
- When was the last fire drill conducted and what was the evacuation time?
- Are fire pump test records available for the last 12 months?
- Has a formal fire risk assessment been conducted? When was it last updated?
Standards and References
The primary standards governing fire safety documentation include NFPA 1 (Fire Code), NFPA 10 (Portable Fire Extinguishers), NFPA 13 (Sprinkler Systems), NFPA 25 (Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems), NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code), and BNBC 2020 Part 4 (Fire Protection). ISO 45001 also requires documented evidence of fire safety management as part of occupational health and safety.