Fire safety compliance before building control.
Check designs against Approved Document B and the British Standards used to meet it, and go into building control — or a Building Safety Regulator gateway — with fewer open issues.
Codes and standards in United Kingdom
- Approved Document B (Fire safety) (UK Government (England)): Statutory guidance for meeting the fire safety requirements of the Building Regulations.
- BS 9999 and BS 9991 (British Standards Institution): Fire safety design codes of practice for non-residential and residential buildings.
- Building Safety Act 2022 (UK Government): Gateway approvals by the Building Safety Regulator for higher-risk buildings in England.
- Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (UK Government (England and Wales)): Requires fire risk assessments for most non-domestic premises once in use.
How building control approval works
Fire safety is assessed at design, during construction and at completion. Higher-risk buildings in England go through Building Safety Regulator gateways.
- Design and full plans: Demonstrate compliance with the Building Regulations, typically via Approved Document B or BS 9999/9991.
- Building control or Gateway 2: Building control reviews the design; higher-risk buildings need Building Safety Regulator approval before work starts.
- Construction and inspection: Inspections during construction and fire safety information handed over under Regulation 38.
- Completion and occupation: Completion certificate, then fire risk assessments once the building is in use.
What Verify AI checks
- Means of escape, travel distances and exit widths — Approved Document B / BS 9999
- Compartmentation and fire-resisting construction — Approved Document B
- Protected stairs, lobbies and firefighting shafts — Approved Document B / BS 9999
- Smoke ventilation of common corridors and stairs — Approved Document B / BS 9991
- Sprinkler provision and fire mains — BS EN 12845 / BS 9990
- Fire detection, alarm and emergency lighting — BS 5839 / BS 5266
Frequently asked questions
Is Verify AI a fire risk assessment tool?
Verify AI checks building designs and models against fire safety design guidance before construction. A fire risk assessment under the Fire Safety Order is carried out on premises in use by a competent person; Verify AI helps make sure the design those assessments start from is compliant.
Approved Document B or BS 9999 — which should I use?
Both are routes to meeting the fire safety requirements of the Building Regulations. Approved Document B is the simpler, more prescriptive route; BS 9999 and BS 9991 allow more flexibility for complex buildings. Agree the approach with building control early.
Does this apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Building regulations are devolved. Wales has its own Approved Document B, and Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own technical standards, so confirm which guidance applies to your project.
What files can I upload?
IFC (2x3 and IFC4), DXF and PDF drawings exported from Revit, ArchiCAD, Bentley, Tekla or AutoCAD.