Modern offices have evolved beyond traditional cellular layouts. Fire safety must adapt to open plan, activity-based working, and shared workspace environments.. The Changing Office The post pandemic office landscape has transformed fire safety considerations. Hot desking, activity based working, and hybrid occupancy create variable fire loads and changing escape route demands. Modern Office Fire Risks Lithium ion batteries — laptops, phones, e scooters, e bikes charging in offices Flexible furniture — movable partitions potentially blocking escape routes Increased electrical demand — multiple charging points per desk position Kitchen/breakout areas — more extensive cooking facilities than traditional offices Reduced cleaning — hybrid working meaning spaces used intermittently Occupancy Variability Hybrid working creates fire safety challenges: Building designed for 500 occupants but may have 50 on Monday and 450 on Thursday Variable occupancy affects evacuation timing and fire warden coverage Booking systems don't account for fire safety staffing requirements Some floors may be entirely unoccupied on certain days Design Considerations Open plan layouts: Extended travel distances (ADB allows 45m in two directions for offices) Smoke detection must account for high ceilings and open volumes Sprinklers may be required for floors exceeding 2,000m² Smoke reservoirs at ceiling level in deep plan offices Co working spaces: Shared escape routes between multiple tenants/operators Access control must not impede escape Responsibility matrix for fire safety between co working operator and building owner Variable occupancy density — hot desking can exceed standard occupancy factors Fire Warden Organisation Modern offices require flexible fire warden arrangements: Floor wardens rather than area wardens (to account for variable desk allocation) Digital check in systems for accountability Remote monitoring capability for unoccupied floors Visitor management integrated with evacuation procedures BS 9999 for Offices Key provisions: Purpose Group 3 (Office) under ADB Travel distance: 18m one direction, 45m two direction Occupancy factor: 6m² per person (NIA) — but hot desking may reduce this to 4 5m² L3 or L2 detection category typically sufficient Emergency lighting on all escape routes and in open areas 60m² For office fire safety design, contact us. Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD — UK's Leading Fire Safety & Fire Engineering Consultancy 🌐 magnus opifex.co.uk 📞 +44 7486 691724 ✉️ office@magnus opifex.co.uk Founders: Nicoleta Vasile, Baroness of Brattleby — CEO, Lawyer and Barrister, Legal & Administrative Director Alina — Technical Director & Expert Fire Engineer (BEng) Head Office: Ealing Cross, 85 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5BW Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD delivers engineering led fire engineering, fire risk assessments, CFD modelling, and building safety consultancy across the United Kingdom and internationally. With over 20 years of combined experience and a UK portfolio spanning healthcare, residential and infrastructure, we bring truly engineered solutions with a personal touch. © 2026 Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD. All rights reserved.