Description
Design for Life?
Fire safety, building resilience and the Principal Designer
Responding to the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, and the passing of the Building Safety Act 2022, this course, designed and delivered by The London School of Architecture, covers fire and life-safety design from a number of perspectives, outlining the regulatory context, insurers requirements, spatial and technical design principles, risk management, and the end-user experience. Participants will gain practical knowledge to support their role as Principal Designers and prepare for mandatory professional competence assessments.
Course Delivery
Delivered over six weeks with a blend of pre-recorded content and live online sessions which feature expert talks, guided discussions, and interactive workshops that apply learning to your live projects. An optional in-person session (Week 4)* gives an opportunity to meet speakers and network with delegates. Live events run for 2 hours on Friday mornings from 10-12.
The content is structured through the RIBA plan of work, introducing topics as they emerge through the life cycle of a typical project. These include understanding the current legislative context; understanding the insurer perspective on fire-safety design; feeing for fire-safety services; spatial and technical design principles; balancing fire-safety and sustainability; understanding material testing and certifications; the PD role under CDM and BSA; and understanding the user perspective on fire-safety. Incorporated within the course is a test which allows delegate to self-assess their understanding against requirements of the RIBA Health and Safety test. In addition to taught content, the course provides a Toolbox of reference documentation and further reading to take back to their practices.
*There is a limit (30) to the number of delegates who are able to attend the week 4 session in person. A registration process will be made available on a first come first served basis. Delegates who aren’t able to attend in person will be able to join online.
Audience
This courses is aimed at anyone who undertakes designer’s duties in the built environment. It will be relevant to architects in practice, architectural students, related built environment professionals and clients. Structured through current UK statute and standards, this course is nonetheless relevant to a global audience. They introduce fundamental principles of fire-safety design and risk management, as well as ethical issues and technical challenges necessary today to ensure health and life safety in design and construction.
Learning Outcomes
Fire, Health and Life Safety courses will meet and exceed core competences required by relevant ARB competence guidelines and RIBA Knowledge Schedules, challenging participants to apply this learning through design exercises and live projects.
On completion of the course, participants will:
- Understand the potential health and safety consequences of poor design decisions.
- Understand the role of the architect for Fire, Health and Life-Safety, as well as where and how input should be sought from other experts and stakeholders.
- Understand the regulatory context for Fire, Health and Life safety within the UK, and be able to review a selected project for compliance with these codes.
- Understand the principles of design risk management, and key documents used to track project compliance.
- Understand the civil liability and insurance implications of design decisions, and be able to design buildings to reduce client insurance costs.
- Understand the fundamental of fire science, and demonstrate an ability to limit the spread of fire and smoke through passive design principles.
- Understand the importance of the User’s Voice in Fire, Health and Life safety.
- Understand the significance of product specification for fire-safety, and be able to make informed decisions about materials and detailing for fire-safety.
- Understand the role others play in ensuring health and safety, and the fire and life-safety information to be provided by the architect.
- Understand the key information required for Fire, Health and Life Safety.
- Demonstrate an awareness of the importance of an ethical, and research-informed approach to architectural design.
Course Leaders
The course is delivered by a team of leading experts in fire safety, building design, and regulation:
- Liam Ross – Senior Lecturer in Architecture, University of Edinburgh; author of Pyrotechnic Cities
- Paul Bussey – Chartered Architect; RIBA Expert Advisory Group on Fire Safety; Senior Technical Consultant at AHMM
They are joined by multidisciplinary team of contributors who have shaped the discourse on fire-safety design since Grenfell including:
- Jane Duncan OBE – Architect, former president of the RIBA, chair Expert Advisory Group on Fire Safety, Architectural Adviser to the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission
- Samaneh Moafi – Assistant Director of Research at Forensic Architecture
- Peter Apps – Author of the Orwell Prize-winning book Show Me The Bodies
- Giles Grover – Campaigner with End Our Cladding Scandal and Manchester Cladiators
- Chris Miles – Commercial director of the Fire Protection Association
- Samantha Peat – Chair of the Construction Leadership Council’s Professional Indemnity Insurance
Time Commitment
The course runs over 6 weeks with a blend of interactive online visual and audio learning methods and live online workshops.
The live workshops will run across six Fridays from 7 November – 12 December 2025.
- Friday 7th November: 2 hours live online, 10am – 12pm
- Friday 14th November: 2 hours live online, 10am – 12pm
- Friday 21st November: 2 hours live online, 10am – 12pm
- Friday 28th November: 2 hours face-to-face at LSA venue, 10am – 12pm
- Friday 5th December: 2 hours live online, 10am – 12pm
- Friday 12th December: 2 hours live online, 10am – 12pm
The optional in-person session (Week 4) provides an opportunity to meet speakers and network with delegates. There is a limit (30) to the number of delegates who are able to attend the week 4 session in person. A registration process will be made available on a first come first served basis. Delegates who aren’t able to attend in person will be able to join online.
Formally recognised by:
“The RIBA welcomes the LSA Design for Life programme that supports architects in developing their competence in fire and building safety, for regulatory compliance and beyond. The sessions will help architects prepare for the design risk management element of the RIBA health and life safety mandatory competence assessment.”
“The London School of Architecture’s Part 4 programme provides exactly the kind of support that the profession needs to respond to the most urgent issues facing our cities. I am delighted to see this innovative professional development programme focus on the issues that practitioners in London are grappling with including inclusion and social value, fire safety and community heritage. Ultimately upskilling the sector on these matters is going to lead to a built environment that better serves Londoners.” Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor
Past participants had to say:
“Fantastic course, more people should attend…it helps you to question what you are designing as well as your competency. A valuable insight into the latest fire safety regulations, from a philosophical and historical context, to fire legislation, to current discussions with leading experts on topics heavily centred around Grenfell and the resulting Building Safety Act.” Rizwana Osman, Senior Architect, and Sean Bignold, Architectural Director, Ryder Architecture
“The quality of speakers, the wealth of supporting documentation and the level of detail that was covered was fantastic and made the whole experience unlike any other post-Part 3 CPD-type training that I have experienced. The interaction with other participants was also a worthy attribute of the course. I had not used Miro boards before and thought it was a great tool and exceptionally useful for such a training environment.” James Roach, MICA Architects
“A good balance of broader contextual thinking and detailed, technical information.” Mark Broom, ACME
Technical requirements
To maximize your learning experience, you’ll need access to:
- A personal computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile device with audio and video playback capability
- Internet access (broadband connection recommended)
- an up-to-date web browser (e.g. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge
- open PDF documents with programs such as Adobe.
- a smartphone with an Authenticator application such as Microsoft Authenticator to generate a time-based one-time code for secure sign in (see our MFA FAQs for details)
Keep in mind that if you’re using a system with a firewall, you may need to allow pop-ups and access to YouTube.
Technical Assistance:
Should you require any technical assistance please contact academysupport@ube.ac.uk
Enrolment details
Enrol today for the next cohort of this course. For corporate bookings: please contact academy@ube.ac.uk to discuss your requirements.
Got any questions about our short courses or need help with your application? Get in touch with our friendly admissions team using the following details:
UK (Free): 0800 019 9697 (Press 1)
International: +44 (0)118 921 4696 (Press 1)
Email: enquiries@ube.ac.uk
London School of Architecture and University of the Built Environment
In May 2025, the London School of Architecture (LSA) merged with the University of the Built Environment (at the time UCEM), uniting two innovative institutions with a shared commitment to accessible, practice-led education in the built environment. The merger brings together our institution’s long-standing expertise in professional and flexible learning with the LSA’s pioneering approach to architectural education. Together, we are expanding opportunities for aspiring architects and built environment professionals to gain qualifications in a way that is practical, inclusive, and aligned with industry needs. The LSA continues to operate as a distinct school delivering its specialist programmes. Its community of students and partners benefit from the increased collaboration and opportunity the wider University brings.
Discounted entry for LSA or UCEM Alumni
If you are an alumni of either the London School of Architecture (LSA), the University College of Estate Management (UCEM) or University of the Built Environment; you are able to receive a 15% discount on the full price of this product by inputting a specific Alumni coupon code at the Online Academy check out page. Contact enquiries@ube.ac.uk to receive your alumni discount. Don’t forget to request this BEFORE completing your registration as discounts cannot be applied retrospectivly.
Data Protection
As stated in Clause 13 of the Online Academy Conditions of Sale; University of the Built Environment Online Academy warrants that in processing Personal Data relating to or provided by you (“the DELEGATE”)
– it will comply with the University of the Built Environment Privacy and Data Protection Policies
– it will comply with its obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation 2016 and the Data Protection Act 2018
– it has in place appropriate technical and organisational security measures against unauthorised or unlawful processing of Personal Data and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, Personal Data.
In this Clause 13, Personal Data has the meaning given in the General Data Protection Regulation 2016.
For the purposes of measurement of success, University of the Built Environment will provide registration and course completion data to The London School of Architecture.
Cancellation policy
The University recognises that a change in circumstances can sometimes be unavoidable and that delegates who register for a scheduled event may need to withdraw or change their original registration. If you are unable to attend this scheduled CPD course you are booked on, you may request to substitute another person to attend in your place provided you notify us in writing at academy@ube.ac.uk at least five working days before the event.
Refunds are calculated as follows upon receipt of the written request to academy@ube.ac.uk
· More than 28 days before the course start date: Online Academy will retain 20% of the fees due.
· 28-14 days before the course start date: Online Academy will retain 50% of the fees due.
· Less than 14 days before the start date: Online Academy will retain 100% of the fees due.
In the unlikely event of the University of the Built Environment withdrawing a course, all course fees paid will be refunded, however the Online Academy will not be liable for any other costs or losses incurred.
