Fire Safety Regulations Changes 2023: The Building Safety Bill

These regulations, known as the Building Safety Bill, apply to any building that is regulated by the Fire Safety Order (FSO), which means all workplace facilities as well as the common areas of buildings that contain two or more domestic premises, such as flats and student accommodation.

What’s changing?

These changes are considered to be Phase 3 of ongoing changes and amendments regarding fire safety reform, with the first phase being the Fire Safety Act 2021, and the second being the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.

These changes can be broken down in to four key areas:

·         Improving cooperation and coordination between Responsible Persons (RPs) – these persons being those that undertake the general fire safety precautions such as conducting and reviewing fire risk assessments. Before these regulations come in to effect, documents will be published the help RP’s better understand what is expected of them.

·         Increasing requirements in relation to the recording and sharing of fire safety information, meaning that there will be a continuous log that can be used for as long as the building stands.

·         Making it easier for enforcement authorities to take action against and punish those found to not be complying with the changes.

·         Ensuring residents have access to comprehensive information about fire safety in their building.

Where do these changes apply?

As previously mentioned, these updated regulations will apply to all FSO regulated buildings. As part of the preparation for these changes, individual up-to-date guides have been published for three types of buildings in which these regulations will specifically apply, which include small non-domestic premises, small blocks of flats (3 storeys or less), as well as small sleeping accommodation.

Make sure you’re prepared

With these additions to the regulations fast approaching, it is important for RPs and building owners to be prepare for the changes to come in to affect.

You can find more information around official fire safety documentation here, including a 5-point checklist in line with the new legislation.

If you’re looking to brush up on previous regulations, you can browse our articles including combustible materials legislation, as well as the latest legislation regarding fire door inspections.