Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 will implement the majority of the recommendations made by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in its Phase 1 report which required a change in the law. The regulations seek to improve the fire safety of blocks of flats in ways which are practical, cost effective for individual leaseholders and proportionate to the risk of fire. The regulations come into force on 23 January 2023 following publication of accompanying guidance on 6 December 2022.
[edit] High-rise residential buildings
For high-rise residential buildings (a multi-occupied residential building at least 18 metres in height or 7 or more storeys), responsible persons must:
- Share electronically with their local fire and rescue service (FRS) information about the building’s external wall system and provide them with electronic copies of floor plans and building plans for the building.
- Keep hard copies of the building’s floor plans, in addition to a single page orientation plan of the building, and the name and UK contact details of the responsible person in a secure information box which is accessible by firefighters.
- Install wayfinding signage in all high-rise buildings which is visible in low light conditions.
- Establish a minimum of monthly checks on lifts which are for the use of firefighters in high-rise residential buildings and on essential pieces of firefighting equipment.
- Inform the fire and rescue service if a lift used by firefighters or one of the pieces of firefighting equipment is out of order for longer than 24 hours
[edit] Multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 metres
For multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 metres in height, responsible persons must undertake quarterly checks on all communal fire doors and annual checks on flat entrance doors
[edit] All multi-occupied residential buildings
In all multi-occupied residential buildings, responsible persons must provide residents with relevant fire safety instructions and information about the importance of fire doors
[edit] Relationship to other requirements
The Fire Safety Act (FSA) clarifies the scope of the Fire Safety Order to make clear that it applies to the structure, external walls (including cladding and balconies) and individual flat entrance doors between domestic premises and the common parts.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, made under article 24 of the Fire Safety Order, impose new duties on responsible persons with regard to the areas brought within the Fire Safety Order by the Fire Safety Act, and commencement of section one of the Fire Safety Act was therefore a necessary precursor to the laying of these regulations.
This article is based on updates from the Government website for further details, fact sheets and guidance visit the site directly at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-england-regulations-2022
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Fire in buildings
- Fire and Security Association.
- Approved document B.
- BS EN 3.
- BS 7974.
- BS 9999.
- BS EN 13501-1.
- Fire performance of external thermal insulation for walls of multistorey buildings, third edition (BR 135).
- Fire risk in high-rise and super high-rise buildings DG 533.
- Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.
- Grenfell Tower fire.
- HSG 168 Fire safety in construction.
- The Building Safety Bill.
- The Building Safety Act.
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Featured articles and news
The general election and the construction industry
As PM, Rishi Sunak announces July 4 date for an election.
Tackling the lack of knowledge or confidence in heat pumps
The CICV Green Home Festival part of the Edinburgh Fringe.
Home improvements swapped for green energy upgrades
As applications down since and desire to reduce bills up.
Eco apprenticeships continue help grow green workforce
A year after being recognised at the King's coronation.
The Use of Natural Insulation Materials in Retrofit
New paper from STBA with support from SDF.
National Retrofit Hub in partnership with InstallerSHOW.
Permitted development rights for agricultural buildings
The changes coming into effect as of May 21, 2024.
Biodiversity and the built environment digital series
The nature of building, with CIOB and CWP.
A call for prevention and sensitive re-use.
Risks to the long-term effectiveness of the BNG scheme
National Audit Office publish review of Biodiversity Net Gain.
The CIAT principal designer register
Providing assurance and verification of the capability and competence of registered ATs.
Building Safety recommendations and Northern Ireland
The NI roadmap to improving safety in high rise residential.
Specifying rendered external wall insulation for fire safety
How to interrogate the evidence provided to the specifier.
The benefits of writing articles for your organisation
How to create a profile for your organisation and publish for free.
Scottish Government action to reach net-zero targets
Retrofit expert group highlight critical actions needed.
A forward thinking, inclusive global community of members.
Comments
To make a comment about this article, or to suggest changes, click 'Add a comment' above. Separate your comments from any existing comments by inserting a horizontal line.