New Fire Safety Laws Laid in Parliament to Boost Building Safety
Major Changes Under Building Safety Act 2022
The government has unveiled new fire safety regulations under Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022. These changes target all buildings governed by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO). The move is part of the Home Office’s phased fire safety reform programme, following on from Phase 1 (Fire Safety Act 2021) and Phase 2 (Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022).
Phase 3 Cranks Up Fire Safety Standards
Phase 3 aims to toughen fire safety across the board by:
- Boosting coordination between Responsible Persons (RPs)
- Increasing requirements to record and share fire safety info, creating a continuous safety record throughout a building’s life
- Making it easier for authorities to crack down on non-compliance
- Giving residents better access to detailed fire safety information about their homes
What’s Next for Fire Risk Assessments?
At this stage, there’s no immediate requirement for RPs to appoint only competent fire risk assessors. The government is working closely with the sector to roll out this plan properly and will share updates in the coming months.
Fresh Guidance and Fire Safety Tools Released
Supporting Responsible Persons, the government has published three brand-new fire safety guides covering 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.” Additionally, an updated fire risk assessment checklist is now available to help keep buildings safe.
