Last updated

12 March 2025

Water planning and building warrant information

Information on the building warrant applications, firefighting access, and water supplies

Building warrant applications and site plans

Building warrant applications and site plans submitted to the SFRS Water Planning Department must meet domestic and non-domestic technical standards.

Building warrant checklist

If you are submitting a building warrant application to SFRS for review, please complete this checklist and forward a location plan and site drawings to SFRS.WaterPlanning@firescotland.gov.uk

Domestic Technical Handbook (Updated yearly)

 2.12 Fire and rescue service access

 Mandatory Standard

 Standard 2.12 - Every building must be accessible to fire and rescue service.

2.13 Fire and rescue service water supply

Mandatory Standard

Standard 2.13 - Every building must be provided with a water supply for use by the fire and rescue   service.

Non-domestic Technical Handbook (Updated yearly)

 2.12 Fire and rescue service access

Mandatory Standard

Standard 2.12 - Every building must be accessible to fire and rescue service.

2.13 Fire and rescue service water supply

Mandatory Standard

Standard 2.13 - Every building must be provided with a water supply for use by the fire and rescue service.

Building Standards Technical Handbooks provide more detailed information on these. Domestic and non-domestic handbooks are available at gov.scot/policies/building-standards.

Plans must include:

  • a clear view of the new development
  • an unobstructed view of the road layout and firefighting water supplies

All building warrant submissions must include a location plan, with Eastings and Northings. This enables the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Water Planning Department to accurately plot the site.

Properties over 7.5m in height

When a proposed property is over 7.5m in height, drawings submitted must clearly indicate a suitable parking space for a fire emergency vehicle. This must be within 18m of the relevant dry riser inlet, as stated within Technical Standards Domestic/Non-Domestic 2.12.1 and 2:14. The property height should be included and expressed in storeys or metres.

Single dwelling house within rural areas

Each new house in a rural area will be assessed on an ad hoc basis. A decision will be made after evaluating:

  • available water supplies, including alternate water supplies
  • water on a fire appliance will be sufficient to control a fire within the dwelling

When proposing a single dwelling house within a rural area, the property ground floor footprint must be provided in metres squared (m²) and compartmentation.

Multiple dwelling houses in rural areas

When proposing multiple houses in a rural area, a geographic information system (GIS) plan must be provided so existing water mains can be identified.

There is a threshold where a Fire Hydrant is essential and alternate water supplies are not appropriate. Large groups of houses must be serviced appropriately for safety of the public and Firefighters.

The guidance on these dwellings will be dependent on the:

  • number of houses
  • location of water mains
  • location of the proposed houses

2.12 Fire and Rescue Service access

Drawings submitted must clearly indicate sufficient access providing:

  • road widths
  • dead-end routes
  • axle loading

It should also be compliant with the guidance within Technical Standards Domestic/Non-Domestic.

2.13 Fire and Rescue Service water supplies

Proposed fire and rescue firefighting water supplies either public water supply, or an alternative water supply, should be decided and included on the drawing submitted. It should also be compliant with the Technical Standards Domestic/Non-Domestic.

Scottish Water geographic information system (GIS) PDF plan

To locate your nearest public main or public hydrant, the most up to date database is held with Scottish Water’s nominated third parties. They can supply you with a PDF plan of your requested location. A nominal charge may need to be paid.

Please complete our checklist and forward a location plan and site drawings to SFRS.WaterPlanning@firescotland.gov.uk

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Water Planning Department will aim to respond to building warrant applications within 28 working days.

Scottish Water’s nominated third parties

Site Investigation Services Ltd

National One-Call

Cornerstone Projects Ltd