Your fire safety plan probably has not been opened since the day your building passed inspection, and that can become a serious compliance problem. Under the BC Fire Code, an outdated or incomplete fire safety plan can delay a permit, create business licence issues, or cause problems during a fire inspection just as quickly as having no plan at all.
Whether you manage a retail unit in Surrey, an office tower in downtown Vancouver, or a strata property anywhere in the Lower Mainland, your fire safety plan must reflect the building’s current layout, occupancy, emergency procedures, supervisory staff, and fire protection systems. A fire safety plan is mandatory under BC Fire Code Section 2.8 for buildings with a fire alarm system and other higher-risk occupancies.
This guide explains how to create a fire safety plan in 8 core steps, from the initial site audit and drawings to fire department review. You will also learn how Vancouver and Surrey review plans independently, why approval in one city does not automatically transfer to another, and why your plan should be reviewed at least every 12 months or updated immediately after any building change.
A fire safety plan (FSP) is a building-specific document outlining emergency procedures, evacuation routes, supervisory staff duties, and fire protection equipment locations. Its job is simple: make sure occupants know what to do during a fire, and give first responders the information they need the second they arrive.
For commercial buildings in Vancouver office towers, retail, restaurants, VFRS enforces the BC Fire Code alongside the Vancouver Fire By-law. In Surrey, the Surrey Fire Service applies the same BC Fire Code. Still, it reviews submissions through its own process, especially for the city's fast-growing construction sites in Whalley, Cloverdale, Newton, Fleetwood, and South Surrey. An FSP approved for a building in one city will not be accepted automatically in the other.
Walk the property and document exits, storage areas, hazardous materials, alarm and sprinkler locations, and anything that could slow an evacuation.
Include exits, stairwells, fire equipment, and assembly points. Vancouver requires the approved symbol set and binder format; Surrey requires the Vital Building Information Sheet and Site Plan Symbols. Confirm the correct format before you submit.
Larger buildings need a designated Fire Safety Director, and Vancouver high-rises additionally require floor wardens. Document who is responsible for what.
Cover how to raise the alarm, notify the fire department, evacuate occupants (including those with mobility challenges), and shut down equipment where applicable.
Outline how flammable materials are stored, how housekeeping reduces fire risk, and how hazards get reported and resolved.
Include your fire alarm monitoring company, fire protection contractor, and inspection/testing dates.
Vancouver submissions are reviewed by VFRS Plan Review, while Surrey submissions go through Surrey Fire Service and are often connected to the building permit process for new construction. Expect a review-and-revise cycle, especially if drawings, emergency contacts, or building details are incomplete, so it helps to understand how to get your BC fire safety plan approved faster before submitting.
Once approved, keep a hard copy in a lockbox near the main entrance, along with building access keys for the fire department.
Submission body: VFRS Plan Review Division (Vancouver) vs. Surrey Fire Service (Surrey).
Construction sites: Surrey ties Construction Fire Safety Plans directly to the building permit process; Vancouver reviews them separately.
Format: Vancouver requires standard binder format with a vital building information sheet; Surrey requires its own Vital Building Information Sheet and Site Plan Symbols.
High-rise rules: Vancouver has additional floor warden and firefighter communication system requirements for taller buildings; Surrey's requirements scale more with occupancy type.
Building description and vital information sheet
Site and floor plan drawings with jurisdiction-approved symbols
Supervisory staff appointments and training records
Written emergency and evacuation procedures
Fire drill schedule and records
Fire protection equipment inspection and maintenance schedule
Emergency contact directory
Fire safety plan box installed at the main entrance
Using a generic template without adapting it to the building's actual layout and occupancy
Assuming a Vancouver-approved plan works in Surrey, or vice versa
Forgetting to update the plan after renovations, staffing changes, or new equipment
Submitting floor drawings that don't match the jurisdiction's approved symbol set, which delays approval
Skipping annual fire drills
Leaving emergency contact information outdated
A generic online template rarely survives first contact with VFRS or Surrey Fire Service — both review submissions against local formatting rules that change how the plan is drawn and structured. Smaller, simple buildings can sometimes get by with a municipal template. Still, larger or more complex commercial buildings benefit from a certified provider that understands each jurisdiction's submission requirements and can prevent costly rejections. Otis Fire Protection prepares and submits fire safety plans for buildings across Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, and Langley, and knows the specific expectations of each local fire department.
Yes. Any building with a fire alarm system in either city must have an approved fire safety plan under the BC Fire Code — but each city reviews and approves its own submissions separately.
No. VFRS and Surrey Fire Service review plans independently. A plan accepted in one city must be resubmitted and reviewed again for a building in the other.
The building owner or their authorized agent, such as a property manager, under the BC Fire Code.
At least every 12 months, and immediately after any change in occupancy, layout, staff, or fire protection systems.
Typically, a few weeks in either city, longer if floor drawings or contact information are incomplete on first submission.
A secure, weatherproof box at the building's main entrance holding a hard copy of the approved plan and building access keys for the fire department.
Otis Fire Protection prepares BC Fire Code–compliant fire safety plans for commercial and multi-residential buildings across Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, Langley, and the Lower Mainland. We handle the audit, drawings, and submission to your specific local fire department so your plan gets approved the first time, whichever city you're in.
Request a fire safety plan quote from Otis Fire Protection today.
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