Fire Brigade Requirements
Tactical Fire Plans
Tactical fire plans (also called pre-incident plans or fire brigade information cards) provide fire crews with the critical building information they need before and during emergency response. They cover access routes, hazards, water supplies, system layouts and any building-specific risks.
What is a tactical fire plan?
A tactical fire plan is a document (or set of documents) prepared for the fire brigade that provides building-specific operational information. It may include site plans, floor plans, system schematics, hazard identification, access and egress routes, water supply information and any special considerations for firefighting in that building.
Why do you need one?
Fire brigades perform better when they have advance knowledge of a building. Tactical plans reduce response time, improve decision-making and reduce risk to firefighters. Some jurisdictions and building types (high-rise, hospitals, large industrial) require or strongly encourage pre-incident planning documentation.
What we include
Our tactical fire plans typically include: site access routes and key holder information, building construction and compartmentation, fire system locations and controls, hazardous materials or processes, water supply details (booster, tanks, town main), floor-by-floor layouts with key features, and any building-specific risks or operational considerations.
Who needs a tactical fire plan?
Tactical plans are particularly relevant for: high-rise buildings, hospitals and aged care, industrial facilities with hazardous storage, large retail and entertainment venues, buildings with complex layouts or access difficulties, and any building where the fire brigade has requested pre-incident information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a tactical fire plan a legal requirement?
In most jurisdictions it is not a standalone legal requirement. However, fire brigades may request them under various powers, and they are considered best practice for complex or high-risk buildings. Some insurance policies and tenancy agreements also require them.
Do you liaise with the fire brigade?
We can prepare plans to fire brigade specifications and coordinate with your local station if required. Different brigades have different format preferences and we accommodate those.
How is this different from block plans?
Block plans document individual fire systems (hydrant, sprinkler, detection). Tactical plans are broader — they provide an operational overview of the entire building for firefighting purposes, incorporating system information along with access, hazards and building features.