When should a building's fire safety plan be reviewed and updated?

A building's fire safety plan is critical for ensuring the safety of occupants and effectively responding to emergencies. The correct practice is to review and update this plan at least annually or whenever significant changes occur. This ensures that the plan reflects the most current information regarding potential hazards, the layout of the building, occupancy changes, or updates to fire safety regulations.

Regular annual reviews help reinforce preparedness and awareness among staff and occupants, while updates in response to significant changes—such as renovations, changes in occupancy type, or modifications to fire safety systems—ensure that the procedures are relevant and effective. This frequency promotes proactive management of fire safety and aligns with national and local fire safety codes, which often emphasize the importance of keeping safety plans current.

In contrast, reviewing the plan every five years may allow for outdated information to persist, while monthly reviews could be overly burdensome and impractical unless there are constant changes. Assessing the document after each fire drill can provide insights into immediate areas for improvement but does not encompass the comprehensive review needed for ongoing effectiveness.