The Fire and Emergency File (FEF) provides specific compliance for all buildings designated Higher-Risk Residential Buildings (HRRBs) over 18 meters in height or containing more than six storeys for the new information required to be available between Gateways 2/3.

Gateways 2 and 3 are the main risk transfer points, where responsibility for the new building is passed to the owner/occupier after the construction phase.

The FEF is a structured digital template which enhances Createmaster’s existing online platform by enabling the creation of a complete, accurate and reliable as-built record of fire safety and other emergency systems installed for HRRBs.

To be completed ahead of gateway 3, it is subsequently passed, along with the O&Ms, to the end client at Practical Completion.

The FEF has been developed in collaboration with leading housing association clients and industry consultants, and according to the best practice policy guidance, embodied in the new Building Safety Regulations.

Fundamentally, the Createmaster FEF service solution simplifies the provision of crucial fire safety information, supplementing the requirements of existing Reg 38, the updated Fire Safety Act and the Building Safety Bill (BSB).

Createmaster’s FEFs supports the collation of a critical information bank, which ensures anyone carrying out design, construction or refurbishment work on a building has a complete and accurate record of the fire strategy and systems for the building and its residents.

Importantly, FEFs provide the future building owner and manager with the base construction information to help them understand what protective systems are in use in the building. This will enable them to formulate the “in-use” operation, maintenance & emergency procedures necessary to create a safe environment for all.

In the wake of the Fire Safety Act and the newly introduced Gateways, FEFs will be a required Gateway 3 item for all HRRBs, and one of the core information deliverables of the future Building Safety Case.

Createmaster Managing Director Brian Dodsworth said: “We’ve responded to a number of asset owners and managers who are committed to having accurate and complete records of the systems within their buildings.

“Our new FEF extension is designed to help seamlessly manage the process, ensuring the right data is collected and shared at the relevant time. Our team has built a service based on extensive research and development to ensure no stone is left unturned, assuring asset owners that they receive full fire and emergency information at handover.

“Our clients understand the supply chain challenges they face, and require a solution provider which can reliably tackle these head-on. This leads them to work with Createmaster to ensure this vital information is available at handover.”