In 2025, the UK implemented substantial updates to fire safety regulations, aiming to bolster building safety and align with European standards. These changes affect construction practices, building designs, and fire safety management across various sectors.
Mandatory Sprinkler Systems in New Care Homes
Effective from 2 March 2025, all new care homes in England, regardless of height, are required to install automatic fire suppression systems, such as sprinklers. This measure aims to enhance fire suppression capabilities in vulnerable settings, ensuring the safety of residents who may find evacuation difficult during emergencies. (gov.uk)
Transition to European Fire Testing Standards
The UK is phasing out the national fire classification system (BS 476) and transitioning to the European standard (BS EN 13501). This shift, commencing on 2 March 2025, will occur in two stages:
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2 March 2025: Removal of references to BS 476 for reaction to fire and roof performance.
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2 September 2029: Complete withdrawal of BS 476 for fire resistance classifications.
Construction projects must align with the European fire testing standards, affecting material selection and building designs. Stakeholders should familiarize themselves with the new standards to ensure compliance. (gov.uk)
Enhanced Fire Safety Information Requirements
Updates to Regulation 38 reflect changes following the implementation of the Building Safety Act, ensuring that fire safety information is appropriately shared and maintained throughout a building’s lifecycle. Building owners and managers must develop tailored evacuation plans for vulnerable residents, such as the elderly and those with disabilities, ensuring that staff are trained to assist effectively during emergencies. (gov.uk)
Competency Standards for Fire Risk Assessors
From 2025, anyone carrying out a Fire Risk Assessment must be demonstrably competent. Fire risk assessors must hold a recognized qualification (such as Level 3 or Level 6 in Fire Risk Assessment) and have up-to-date knowledge of legislation and best practices. Building owners or Responsible Persons must ensure their chosen assessor meets these criteria. (esifiresafety.co.uk)
Digital Records and Sharing of Fire Safety Information
Responsible Persons must maintain fire safety information digitally and make it accessible to residents, enforcement bodies, and—where relevant—building regulators. Key documents like Fire Risk Assessments, maintenance logs, evacuation plans, and evidence of fire door checks must be stored securely and updated promptly. Larger buildings (typically over 11 meters in height or with multiple Responsible Persons) will need a digital safety file that follows the building over its lifetime. (esifiresafety.co.uk)
Fire Door Checks Expanded to Smaller Buildings
Previously, the requirement for routine fire door checks applied mainly to high-rise buildings. As of 2025, all multi-occupied residential buildings with communal areas must carry out and record regular inspections of fire doors. This includes checking communal fire doors quarterly, checking flat entrance doors annually, keeping written records of checks and repairs, and informing residents of their responsibilities. (esifiresafety.co.uk)
Enhanced Duties for “Overlapping” Responsible Persons
In many buildings, fire safety responsibility is shared between freeholders, managing agents, leaseholders, or commercial tenants. The 2025 update makes it clear: all parties must cooperate and share relevant fire safety information. For example, if a commercial tenant on the ground floor of a mixed-use building has their own Fire Risk Assessment, that must be shared with the building’s overall Responsible Person. (esifiresafety.co.uk)
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)
The government plans to implement Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for residents with disabilities and impairments in high-rise buildings. These plans will include person-centered risk assessments and detailed evacuation strategies. Building owners and managers must develop tailored evacuation plans for vulnerable residents, such as the elderly and those with disabilities, ensuring that staff are trained to assist effectively during emergencies. (totalfiregroup.org)
Second Staircases in Tall Residential Buildings
From 2026, new guidance will require the inclusion of second staircases in tall residential buildings exceeding 18 meters in height. Developers and architects must incorporate dual staircase designs in upcoming projects to enhance evacuation routes and comply with safety standards. (totalfiregroup.org)
Raising Competence in Fire Risk Assessors
The government plans to implement Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for residents with disabilities and impairments in high-rise buildings. These plans will include person-centered risk assessments and detailed evacuation strategies. Building owners and managers must develop tailored evacuation plans for vulnerable residents, such as the elderly and those with disabilities, ensuring that staff are trained to assist effectively during emergencies. (totalfiregroup.org)
Sprinklers in Care Homes
Following consultation, the government has decided to extend the provision of sprinklers in Approved Document B to all new care homes irrespective of height. The changes to the guidance also remove previous allowances associated with the provision of sprinklers in care homes. New care homes will be expected to limit compartment sizes to 10 beds while ensuring self-closing devices are fitted to doors. (gov.uk)
National Classes
Currently, Approved Document B operates a dual system for reaction to fire and roofs and fire resistance testing and classification for construction products. This includes both the National Classes (BS 476) and the European Standard (BS EN 13501 series). Recognizing the specific needs for these parts of industry, we are implementing changes to the guidance in two stages:
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2 March 2025: Update to guidance removes the national classification system (BS476) for reaction to fire and roofs from Approved Document B.
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2 September 2029: Update to guidance removes the national classification system (BS 476) for fire resistance from Approved Document B.
The European Standard (BS EN), deemed more current and robust than the National Classes, will be the sole route of specification within Approved Document B for reaction to fire and roofs classifications. (gov.uk)
These updates aim to enhance building safety and align with European standards, impacting construction practices, building designs, and fire safety management across various sectors.
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