Everything You Need to Know About New Fire Safety Regulations

The fire at Grenfell Tower in June 2017 that killed 72 people changed the way we all think about fire safety in high-rise buildings. The subsequent inquiry has covered many areas related to the tragedy, including how it started, how it spread, and how effectively firefighters were able to tackle the blaze and evacuate residents.

As a direct result of the inquiry, the government is introducing The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, which will give building owners and managers a range of new duties under the Fire Safety Order.

The regulations will come into force on 23 January 2023, so it is essential that those affected get on top of their new responsibilities as soon as possible.

The regulations have separate measures for:

• All multi-occupied residential buildings
• Multi-occupied residential buildings that are 11 metres and over
• Multi-occupied residential buildings that are 18 metres and over

Measures affecting all multi-occupied residential buildings

From 23 January 2023, the Responsible Person in all multi-occupied residential buildings must provide fire safety instructions and information on the importance of fire doors to all residents.

Measures affecting buildings 11 metres high and over

From 23 January 2023, the Responsible Person in multi-occupied residential buildings 11 metres and over must ensure that all communal fire doors are checked quarterly and that the entrance doors to all flats are checked annually.

Measures affecting buildings 18 metres high and over

Most of the new regulations apply to multi-occupied residential buildings that are at least 18 metres or seven storeys high. From 23 January 2023, the building’s Responsible Person must:

• Provide the local fire and rescue service (FRS) with electronic copies of floor and building plans for the building together with electronic information about the external wall system.
• Keep hard copies of the floor plans, an orientation plan and contact details for the Responsible Person in a secure premises information box (PIB) accessible to firefighters.
• Where low light conditions exist, ensure that clearly visible signage points to exit routes.
• Instigate monthly checks on lifts and essential firefighting equipment that are for the use of firefighters and inform the FRS if in either case they are out of order for over 24 hours.

You can find out more about the new regulations at the relevant government website, which also contains detailed fact sheets on all the measures outlined above.

Scutum London is a leading fire safety specialist working with landlords, leaseholders and other responsible persons across London, Surrey and the rest of the South East of England to ensure full compliance with all relevant legislation as it applies to multi-occupied residential buildings.

Our experienced professionals are on hand to provide any necessary advice and information, carry out expert fire risk assessments and install and maintain any necessary equipment specified in the new regulations.

Please get in touch with us to find out more or to arrange a visit by one of our team to your multi-occupied residential premises.