Scenario-Based Decision-Making: Practical Skills in Fire Safety
Scenario-Based Decision-Making in Fire Safety:ProQual Level 5 Knowledge Task Guide
Table of Contents
Task Overview
This task places the learner directly into the role of a fire safety officer, engineer, or
supervisory decision-maker who must respond to a developing situation involving
internal and external fire-spread hazards. They must interpret the scenario, prioritise
corrective actions, communicate with relevant stakeholders, and justify decisions using
UK fire-safety legislation, guidance, and best practice (including the Regulatory Reform
(Fire Safety) Order 2005, Building Regulations 2010, Approved Document B, BS 9999,
BS 476, and post-Grenfell façade requirements).
The aim is to strengthen:
- Practical professional judgement
- Decision-making skills under time pressure
- Understanding of passive and external fire-spread mechanisms
- Ability to reference and apply the principles of prevention
- Competence in identifying and documenting fire-safety deficiencies
- Skills in recommending compliant, proportionate, and realistic controls
Learners should respond as a competent safety professional would in a live workplace
environment.
Scenario-Based Decision-Making Task
Scenario Background
You are the Fire Safety Officer for a large mixed-use building: a four-storey structure
combining commercial units on the ground floor and residential flats above. During a
routine inspection, you discover several issues that pose serious risks of internal and
external fire spread. Recent refurbishment works have been carried out by
subcontractors, and building management is unaware of some pending defects.
Your inspection is time-limited, and you must make immediate professional decisions.
Scenario Findings
During your inspection, you observe the following:
Internal Fire Spread Issues
1. Compartment wall breach:
A new IT contractor has installed additional data cabling, leaving a 250 mm gap
around a cable bundle passing through a 60-minute fire-resisting wall. No fire
stopping has been installed.
2. Fire door failure:
The FD60S door to a key stairwell does not self-close properly and has damaged
intumescent strips.
3. Smoke migration risk:
Ventilation ducts serving the top-floor flats pass through compartments, but fire
dampers appear heavily dust-loaded and have no documented inspection
records for 4 years.
4. Compartment wall breach:
In the shared loft space above the top-floor flats, fire barriers stop abruptly,
leaving a 3-metre gap where a contractor removed panels to install a new pipe
run.
External Fire Spread Issues
5. Combustible façade concerns:
Timber-effect cladding boards were installed five years ago. The building is 12
metres high. Management has no documentation regarding fire classification or
compliance with post-Grenfell requirements.
6. Waste storage risk:
The commercial unit stores cardboard waste against an external wall directly
beneath residential windows.
7. Balcony hazard:
Residents on the first floor are storing plastic furniture, soft furnishings, and a
propane BBQ cylinder on their balconies.
Management Failures
8. No passive fire protection register exists.
9. Contractors have not been required to provide fire-safety documentation
after refurbishment works.
10. The Responsible Person has not reviewed the Fire Risk Assessment for
two years.
Your Role
You must act immediately as a competent Fire Safety Officer. Decisions should be
justified with:
- Relevant UK fire-safety legislation
- Fire-spread prevention principles
- Building Regulations and Approved Document B requirements
- Professional judgement
- Proportionate and practical controls
Task Requirements – Decision-Making Questions
SECTION 1 – PRIORITY DECISION-MAKING
- List your top FIVE immediate priorities from the scenario above.
o For each priority, briefly explain why it is urgent in relation to internal or
external fire spread.
o Reference the appropriate UK legislative duty (e.g., RRFSO 2005 Articles
8, 9, 17; Building Regulations Part B; etc.).
SECTION 2 – PROFESSIONAL ACTIONS & JUSTIFICATIONS
- What actions must you take immediately on-site?
o Consider temporary controls, communication requirements, restriction of
use, and escalating issues. - What long-term corrective actions are required?
o Refer to relevant standards (e.g., BS 9999, Approved Document B, BS
476, BS 5839 where applicable). - Which duty holders must you communicate with?
o E.g., Responsible Person, building owner, property manager, contractors,
residents.
SECTION 3 – DOCUMENTATION AND EVIDENCE COLLECTION
- Identify the documents you must generate or update as part of your decision-making responsibilities.
Examples may include:
o Fire Risk Assessment updates
o Passive fire register creation or revision
o Non-conformance / defect reports
o Photographic evidence logs
o Contractor competence records
o Inspection and maintenance records
SECTION 4 – PRINCIPLES OF PREVENTION APPLICATION
- Explain how the following UK principles of fire prevention apply to your decisions in this scenario:
a. Elimination
b. Substitution
c. Engineering controls
d. Management controls
e. Maintenance and monitoring
SECTION 5 – PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT CHALLENGE
- The Responsible Person argues that the cladding is “probably fine” because the building is not above 18m. Provide a professional response explaining:
o What the law requires
o The relevance of external fire spread risks at heights under 18m
SECTION 6 – FINAL DECISION SUMMARY
- Produce a concise but structured summary of your final decisions, explaining:
o What immediate actions will be taken
o What longer-term improvements are required
o How you will ensure continuous compliance with UK fire-safety
requirements
o How this scenario informs future fire-spread prevention management on
the premises