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The bustling environment of a construction site presents a myriad of hazards, and among the most critical is the risk of fire. This leads to a fundamental, yet often overlooked, question: Do all construction sites require the installation of fire detection and alarm systems?
While the simple answer might seem like an unequivocal "yes," the reality, as governed by health and safety legislation, is rooted in the essential principle of risk assessment. However, the serious consequences of ignoring fire safety precautions, as highlighted by recent legal action, strongly underscore why such systems are frequently mandatory and always essential for protecting life and property.
The stark necessity for rigorous fire safety planning is powerfully illustrated by the prosecution of a construction firm in Preston, which ultimately led to the company entering liquidation.
On 2nd July 2025, a press release detailed how an Altrincham-based construction company, Glovers Court Ltd, was fined a hefty £165,000 and ordered to pay £10,512 in costs for repeatedly failing to implement suitable fire precautions during the renovation of a former city centre warehouse into 35 apartments.
The development was visited by the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) on 16 May 2023. A number of critical fire safety issues were identified, leading LFRS to prohibit the use of the building.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) then collaborated with LFRS and found the company failed to comply with its duty to ensure suitable fire safety precautions were in place during the ongoing construction work. These catastrophic failures included:
No fire detection system.
No means of raising the alarm in case of a fire.
Inadequate escape plans.
Construction work had not been phased to ensure fire compartmentation was maintained, allowing fire to potentially spread to all floors.
As a result, HSE served a prohibition notice, stopping all further work, and an improvement notice, requiring the design and implementation of a fire management plan.
Despite these notices, HSE found that construction work had continued during further visits in June and November 2023 without any action being taken to comply.
Glovers Court Ltd, which has now gone into liquidation, was found guilty of breaching multiple regulations, including:
Breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), which requires the Principal Designer (PD) to plan, manage and monitor the pre-construction phase and co-ordinate health and safety matters.
Breaching Regulation 13(1) of CDM 2015, relating to the failure to plan, manage, and monitor the construction phase to ensure it is carried out without risks.
Two counts of breaching Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA) for contravening the requirements of an improvement notice or a prohibition notice.
HSE Inspector Christine McGlynn commented that the company showed a "blatant disregard" for fire safety laws. A spokesperson for LFRS highlighted the "critical importance" property developers and owners must give to fire safety.
LFS (Cube T/A London Fire and Security Training) delivers the gold standard in fire safety training, providing you and your teams with the accredited knowledge required to ensure compliance, protect assets, and avoid crippling fines.
Enroll Today to Gain OFQUAL-Approved Competence:
Course Highlight: EAL Level 3 Award in the Requirements of Fire Detection and Fire Alarm Systems for Buildings (BS 5839-1:2025)
What You Learn: Comprehensive understanding of the latest British Standard for fire detection and fire alarm systems, giving you the competency to design, install, commission, and maintain legally compliant systems.
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