Building Safety recap January, 2026
[edit] In brief
[edit] December
Alignment with the Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations continued with the Fire Engineers Advisory Panel issuing an Authoritative Statement defining the required knowledge, skills, and behaviours of competent fire engineers, progressing toward statutory regulatory protection of the professional title and core functions. This includes a review of integrated fire safety strategies across architectural, structural, and MEP systems focused on HRBs initially, with potential expansion. extending further. Meanwhile the President of the RIBA, in a break from the norm, pubically announced he would not renew his architect accreditation with the ARB in an action to highlight the absurdity of the protecting the title of architect without protecting the function of architect. CIAT responded without opposite but direction and the campaign for the repeal of the architects act in support of competence lead professional protected by function as well as title started. The government in the meantime confirmed that need for regulatory stability meant that the definition of HRBs will remain as is, but liable to ongoing risk-based review by BSR. Its Single Construction Regulator prospectus was also published for consultation (ending March 2026), consolidating current fragmentation. The new body will cover construction products, fire testing and certification, building control, contractor licensing, professional accreditation, and data transparency to strengthen an accountable safety-led culture, to restore public trust. Following QBE findings that UK fire services attended solar panel related fires every two days in 2024, a 60% increase since 2022, the government published research examining fire spread over pitched roofs fitted with photovoltaic (PV) systems through 11 large-scale experiments.
[edit] January
Though in many resects a formality following the December publication of the Single Construction Regulator prospectus, BSR became a standalone body to consolidate oversight of high-risk buildings. BSR Data showed strong momentum in approvals for new builds and remediation projects standing it in good stead for changes. BSi with BSR and ISCG launched the Built Environment Competence Hub to better communicate, share and gather feedback on safety updates. The Pubically Available Standard; PAS 2000:2026 a code of practice framework to support construction product safety and regulatory compliance due to be released. Intended to assist manufacturers, importers, and distributors in demonstrating that they have taken proportionate and reasonable steps to ensure products placed on the market are safe. The introduction of lithium-ion battery hazards to Class L fires to address risks of thermal runaway, toxic gas, and delayed re-ignition, guiding detection, suppression, and emergency response strategies. A streamlined standard for low-risk telecommunications work to proportion Building Control measures to risk. Additional measures included updates to NHBC 2026 Standards to more explicitly address fire safety. In the UK the Welsh government published a building safety impact assessment, and Scottish government published a consultation concerning its review of technical documents and fire safety. Internationally amongst the numerous fire safety incidents, deadly fires in Pakistan’s Gul Plaza amounted to 67 deaths and Switzerland’s Le Constellation bar on New Years eve lead to 41 deaths and many serious injuries.
[edit] In detail
[edit] December
[edit] Solar panels, pitched roofs and risk of fire spread new report. 22 December
Following reports in November 2025 (QBE) that UK fire services attended solar panel–related fires every two days in 2024, represented a 60% increase since 2022. The government published research in December 2025 examining fire spread over pitched roofs fitted with photovoltaic (PV) systems through 11 large-scale experiments. Findings showed that plastic-backed (Class C) BAPV panels permitted significant vertical flame spread, whereas glass-backed (Class A) panels largely confined fire to the ignition area. Some BROOF (t4) rated roof systems exhibited extensive fire spread when combined with PV arrays, particularly beneath panels, though aluminium mounting rails provided partial fire-break effects. BIPV systems incorporating combustible elements such as wooden battens and plastic trays demonstrated substantial vertical and horizontal flame spread and proved more difficult to extinguish due to concealed cavity fire development. Further testing has been commissioned with the aim of informing potential updates to Approved Document B guidance.
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Solar_panels,_pitched_roofs_and_risk_of_fire_spread
[edit] Policy paper: Fire engineering profession reform. 17 December
The Fire Engineers Advisory Panel established in response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry issued an Authoritative Statement defining the knowledge, skills, and behaviours expected of competent fire engineers, and plans to implement statutory regulation of the profession. Regulation to protect the title and core functions of fire engineers, particularly the development, delivery, and review of fire safety strategies, ensuring integration of architectural, structural, and MEP systems to prevent fire, limit spread, and enable safe evacuation. Initially focused on higher-risk buildings, potentially expanding to other critical infrastructure, fire engineers will be held to regulatory, advisory, and operational standards. Professional, legal, and contractual duties to prioritise public safety, with clearer regulation to define responsibilities, interfaces between disciplines, and accountability. Competence to cover: technical knowledge in fire dynamics, prevention, human behaviour, building systems, and firefighting needs, with strong analytical and communication skills. The next phase involves a phased, managed transition to regulated, accountable profession, aiming to restore public trust and ensure consistently fire-safe outcomes across the built environment.
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Reform_of_the_fire_engineering_profession
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-engineering-profession-reform
[edit] Policy paper: Review of the definition of higher-risk buildings. 17 December
The Building Safety Act 2022 regulatory framework for higher-risk buildings (HRBs) are defined as buildings at least 18 metres or 7 storeys high with 2 or more residential units. Height and use remain the primary criteria for inclusion, with vulnerability addressed through targeted measures such as sprinklers, second staircases, and Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs). Evidence shows that taller residential buildings continue to carry the highest risk of fatalities, while non-residential buildings are effectively covered by existing regulations. The regime is still embedding, and expanding or reducing its scope now would disrupt industry and the regulator’s capacity. To ensure responsiveness to emerging risks and protect vulnerable residents, the BSR will conduct an ongoing risk-based review, integrating new data, stakeholder input, and evolving building safety evidence, with periodic updates to maintain and strengthen protections.
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Definition_of_higher-risk_buildings
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-the-definition-of-higher-risk-buildings
[edit] Open consultation: Single construction regulator prospectus 17 December
Government proposed and consults on the creation of a Single Construction Regulator to consolidate oversight across the construction sector, addressing fragmentation and driving systemic culture change following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2. This regulator to centralise responsibilities currently spread across multiple bodies, including regulation of construction products, fire testing and certification, building control, contractor licensing, oversight of Building Regulations, research, information sharing, accreditation of fire risk assessors, and maintaining publicly available data. The aim is to ensure consistent safety standards, improve accountability, and foster a quality and safety led culture. Industry leaders and organisations, including ARB, CIAT, and CIOB, broadly welcomed the proposals, emphasising the opportunity to strengthen professional regulation, integrate oversight of buildings, products, and professions, and enhance public trust.The consultation, closes 20 March 2026, and seeks input on regulatory design, digital interoperability, culture change, automation in compliance, and the roles and responsibilities of government, regulators, and industry. A formal government response and further details on implementation are expected in summer 2026, enforcement not yet known.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/single-construction-regulator-prospectus
[edit] CIAT outlines position as RIBA calls for a competence-led approach to architects’ regulation. 15 December
In response the RIBA President's announcement regarding registration CIAT expressed openness to reform focused on competence rather than title protection, reiterating its longstanding concern that title-based regulation creates market distortion without proportionate safety benefit. However, CIAT emphasised that any new framework must be co-designed across professional bodies, target clearly defined safety-critical functions (e.g., Principal Designer roles aligned to standards such as PAS 8671), require ongoing competence demonstration, ensure equitable access irrespective of title, maintain proportionality to risk, and preserve the independence of professional institutes, while ensuring reforms are practical and genuinely enhance safety and quality across the built environment.
[edit] RIBA President will not renew ARB registration. 11 December
In December the newly appointed RIBA President Chris Williamson made an industry statement by not renewing his ARB registration for the title of architect. The move was the pre-curser to a wider campaign to highlight the absurdity’ of the ARB registration model and a call abolish Architects Act and establish new regulatory framework that focusses on competence and protects the role and function of the Architect as well as the title of architect.
https://www.riba.org/news/riba-president-will-not-renew-arb-registration/
[edit] January
[edit] BS ISO 3941:2026 inc' new fire classification for lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery fires. 31 January
BS ISO 3941:2026 standard introduces Class L fires to address the unique hazards posed by Li-ion batteries, reflecting growing presence in buildings, transport, and society. Unlike traditional Class A, B, or electrical fires, Li-ion fires present rapid heat release, thermal runaway, toxic and flammable gas emission, explosion and projectile risks, and potential delayed re-ignition due to stranded energy. The new classification guides fire risk management, requiring detection, suppression, and emergency response strategies to account for the type, quantity, and storage of Li-ion batteries in settings ranging from residential and commercial buildings to industrial sites and EV charging stations. It ensures that building designers, operators, and emergency responders properly assess and mitigate these evolving fire risks.
https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/classification-of-fires-3
https://www.thefpa.co.uk/news/Class%20L%20introduced%20for%20lithium-ion%20battery%20fires
[edit] Consultation: Improving proportionality and safety outcomes in BC telecomm's work. 28 January
Consultation seeking views on proposals to streamline building control procedures for certain low-risk activities within the higher-risk building regime, specifically fibre optic cabling and mobile communications masts. For existing buildings, it considers dispensing with procedural requirements for drilling through internal fire-resisting walls for fibre installation and installing or repairing mobile masts, while still requiring duty holders to meet standards of the Building Regulations 2010. Aiming to make regulatory processes proportionate and effective, freeing resources to focus on higher-risk work such as new builds and remediation projects, while retaining safeguards where safety risks are greatest.
[edit] Bringing safe products to market, a Code of Practice: PAS 2000:2026 Draft. 27 January
PAS 2000:2026 the BSI Pubically Available Standard; a code of practice framework to support construction product safety and regulatory compliance across the product lifecycle. Developed in response to Recommendation 3.3 of the Morrell-Day Review, it is intended to assist manufacturers, importers, and distributors in demonstrating that they have taken proportionate and reasonable steps to ensure products placed on the market are safe. The standard addresses pre-market risk assessment, factory production control, traceability, and effective communication of safety-critical information, as well as post-market feedback mechanisms. Aligned with wider UK regulatory reforms following Grenfell, it reinforces accountability in the introduction of products into the built environment. Following public consultation through September 2025, publication is anticipated ahead of a formal launch event scheduled for 10 March 2026.
https://pages.bsigroup.com/PAS-2000-Launch-Event
[edit] BSR becomes standalone body in landmark step towards single construction regulator. 27 January
BSR officially became a standalone arm’s length body under MHCLG, no longer operating under the HSE. This addresses the Phase 2 recommendation to consolidate construction industry regulation under a single body. Formalised by the 2026 Regulations it transfers all building-safety duties, powers, and ongoing work from HSE to BSR, ensuring continuity without disruption. As an executive non-departmental public body, BSR now focuses on higher-risk building oversight, promoting competence, embedding higher standards, and driving culture change in the built environment. Operational delivery strengthened through the Innovation Unit and efficiency, positions it to evolve toward a future single construction regulator, supporting safe construction, remediation of unsafe buildings, for more safe homes.
[edit] Building control approval application data. 24 January 2026
BSR shows strong momentum in Gateway 2 decisions; 698 across all application types and 1,159 live applications. London with high concentration of high-rise developments accounts for 68% of decisions. New build approvals cover 19,914 residential units, with 11,962 granted, while 52 historic legacy applications have been resolved, and 29 complex cases are under review. Remediation steady, 75 decisions, 73 new submissions, and a Remediation Improvement Plan launching to address quality and resource challenges. Innovation Unit made 39 decisions, managing 111 live applications, focussed on increasing approval rates and reducing invalidations. Adoption of batching pilot for mixed new build and remediation cases helping accelerate processing times, key to workflow towards standalone operations and efficiency.
[edit] The ICSG and BSi Built Environment Competence Hub launched. 21 January
The BSI and Industry Competence Steering Group (ICSG) formally launched the Built Environment Competence Hub on January 21, 2026. Developed to support industry alignment and best practices, it serves as a central repository for competence frameworks, standards, and guidance.
[edit] 67 killed following fire at shopping centre in the Sindh province of Pakistan. 17 January
At least 67 people killed following a fire that broke out at a shopping centre in the Sindh province of Pakistan, health and police officials said. Flames swept through the ground floor of the Gul Plaza shopping centre in Karachi late on Saturday.
https://www.thefpa.co.uk/news/over-60-people-dead-after-fire-at-pakistan-shopping-centre-
[edit] New fire safety sustainability interest group launched. 17 January
The Fire Industry Association (FIA) has called for those with an interest in setting the agenda for sustainable fire safety to register their interest in joining the first cohort of its recently launched Sustainability Special Interest Group (SIG)
https://www.thefpa.co.uk/news/new-fire-safety-sustainability-interest-group-launched
[edit] Scottish building regulations - fire safety review and compliance: call for evidence 16 January
Call for Evidence to help shape and inform a fundamental review of Section 2 (Fire) of the Technical Handbooks, considering changes to the standards and processes set within The Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (as amended) and other published guidance documents to improve provisions addressing fire safety.
[edit] Fife Council approves plan to install retrofit water-based sprinkler systems in all flats
https://www.thefpa.co.uk/news/scottish-council-to-retrofit-sprinklers-in-high-rise-blocks
[edit] FireQual Approved Training Centre for fire risk assessment qualifications aligned to BS 8674 14 Jan
https://www.thefpa.co.uk/news/FireQual%20to%20accredit%20new%20FRA%20training%20from%20the%20FPA
[edit] First major housebuilder signs Scotland’s Developer Remediation Contract. 8 January
https://www.thefpa.co.uk/news/developer-signs-scottish-remediation-contract
[edit] BSA 2022 phase 2: cost benefit model report of building safety regime in Wales. 6 January
Welsh Government publish its report Building Safety Act 2022 Phase 2 – Design and Construction Stage – Impact Assessment – Cost-Benefit Model Report: The results of an assessment of the costs of the proposed policy option for the design and construction stage of the new building safety regime in Wales. Report was prepared by Adroit Economics for and on behalf of Welsh Government.
[edit] Office for Product Safety and Standards Register of Specialists seeks applicants (OPSS RoS)
https://opss-careers.co.uk/construction-products-register-of-specialists/
[edit] Guidance: Building safety newsletter launched 6 January
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/building-safety-newsletter
[edit] Latest edition of the NHBC Standards published and updated for 2026. 5 January
Significant changes include more prescriptive stance on material selection, refining which materials can be used for insulation in critical architectural junctions, such as party walls, spandrel panel junctions, and boxed eaves. Now requires all materials to be suitable for intended purpose, recommending rock-based insulation in specific areas where glass-fibre now considered an inadequate fire-stopping material. Continued use of glass-fibre insulation at these junctions to be allowed, but only where suitability of material demonstrated through explicit test data and third-party certification.
[edit] Crans-Montana, Le Constellation bar fire 2026. 1 January.
On 1 January 2026 at about 1:30 CET (local time), a deadly fire broke out at Le Constellation, an underground bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana. Smoke and flames rapidly filled the venue, trapping visitors inside. Emergency
services responded and evacuated patrons but the fire escalated before crews could fully contain it. As of 1 February 2026, authorities reported 41 deaths and 116 injured people with 83 people were treated for serious burns. Swiss investigators believe the fire was triggered by champagne bottle sparklers igniting acoustic foam on the basement ceiling, leading to a rapid flashover in the confined space. Later indication was the bar had not been checked for five years before the fire, Swiss officials said, as they later banned sparklers.
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/w/index.php?title=Crans-Montana_bar_fire_2026&rcid=322983
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c7090r31jept
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Quick links
[edit] Legislation and standards
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Secondary legislation linked to the Building Safety Act
Building safety in Northern Ireland
[edit] Dutyholders and competencies
BSI Built Environment Competence Standards
Competence standards (PAS 8671, 8672, 8673)
Industry Competence Steering Group
[edit] Regulators
National Regulator of Construction Products
[edit] Fire safety
Independent Grenfell Tower Inquiry
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