New Fire Safety Laws Drop in Parliament
The Government has laid down new fire safety rules under section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022. These latest regulations ramp up fire safety standards across all buildings covered by the Fire Safety Order 2005 (FSO).
Phase 3 Fire Safety Shake-Up
This is Phase 3 of the Home Office’s fire safety crackdown, building on previous moves like the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the 2022 Fire Safety Regulations in England. The new measures aim to:
- Boost cooperation between Responsible Persons (RPs)
- Demand better recording and sharing of fire safety info for the entire building lifespan
- Make it simpler for authorities to hit non-compliant landlords and managers with enforcement
- Give residents full access to fire safety details about their homes
No Immediate Competency Checks for Fire Risk Assessors
For now, there’s no rule forcing Responsible Persons to ensure anyone they hire to carry out fire risk assessments is qualified. Officials are working closely with the sector to craft a solid plan and will share updates soon.
Fresh Fire Safety Guides Published
To help RPs get up to speed, new guidance will be out before the new rules kick in. In the meantime, the Government has launched three updated fire safety guides aimed at small non-domestic premises, small blocks of flats, and small sleeping accommodations. These replace the old “short guide to making your premises safe from fire”. The fire risk assessment checklist has also received a refresh.
