The Importance of Complying with the New Fire Safety England Regulations 2022
The safety of residents in multi-occupied residential buildings has been a growing concern in recent years, especially in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy.
To address this issue, new regulations have been introduced by the UK government, known as the Fire Safety Act and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.
These regulations place a significant responsibility on owners and managers of residential buildings with multiple occupants to manage and reduce the risk of fire.
Concerns over inadequate information for fire and rescue services during emergencies, the lack of clear evacuation plans, and faulty firefighting equipment have prompted the government to implement these regulations.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at these new regulations and what they require responsible persons to do in order to ensure the safety of residents.
What Led to These Changes?
The Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 sparked nationwide concerns about fire safety in residential buildings.
In response, an inquiry was established, which made several recommendations to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.
Some of these recommendations included providing better information on building design and construction, improving evacuation plans and procedures, and ensuring proper maintenance of firefighting equipment.
Following a public consultation in 2020, the government introduced the Fire Safety England Regulations 2022 to implement these recommendations into practical measures for responsible persons.
These regulations work alongside the Fire Safety Act amendments to the Fire Safety Order and updated guidance to improve fire safety outcomes.
What Do the Regulations Require Responsible Persons To Do?
The new regulations place specific responsibilities on responsible persons based on the height of their buildings.
However, some provisions apply regardless of building height as they are intended to ensure all occupants feel safe from fire.
For buildings over 11 meters in height (typically five stories or more), additional requirements are introduced, and for buildings over 18 meters (seven stories or more), further measures are necessary.
For all multi-occupied residential buildings with shared common areas, responsible persons must provide relevant fire safety information to residents on how to report a fire and what to do in case of a fire.
This information should include the importance of fire doors and how to use them correctly.
For buildings over 11 meters in height, responsible persons must also carry out routine checks of all fire doors, including annual checks of flat entrance doors and quarterly checks of fire doors in common areas.
For high-rise residential buildings over 18 meters, the responsible person must install and maintain a secure information box containing key information, such as the name and contact details of the responsible person, floor plans, and building plans.
These plans must also be shared electronically with the local fire and rescue service.
Additionally, monthly checks must be carried out on all firefighting equipment such as lifts, smoke control systems, and fire alarms.
Any faulty equipment must be reported to the local fire and rescue service immediately.
What About Fire Risk Assessments?
The new regulations also clarify that the external walls of a building, including cladding, balconies, insulation, and fixings, fall within the scope of the Fire Safety Order.
Responsible persons are required to update their fire risk assessments to include this information as soon as possible.
To assist with this process, an online tool has been developed by the government to help prioritise which buildings require immediate attention.
However, this tool does not replace the need for responsible persons to act upon any known or suspected risks in their buildings.
What Should Responsible Persons Do Now?
The first step for responsible persons is to understand their specific responsibilities according to the height of their building.
They can check their obligations on the government’s website and discuss any queries with their local fire and rescue service directly.
Next, responsible persons should ensure they have all the necessary information on building design and materials, floor plans, and firefighting equipment in place.
They should also regularly carry out checks and maintenance of fire doors and equipment to ensure they are functioning correctly.
Conclusion
The Fire Safety England Regulations 2022 have been introduced to improve fire safety outcomes in multi-occupied residential buildings.
Responsible persons must take specific actions according to the height of their building, including providing fire safety information to residents, carrying out checks of firefighting equipment, and maintaining up-to-date records for the local fire and rescue service.
It is crucial that all responsible persons comply with these regulations to ensure the safety of residents in their buildings.
By taking the necessary steps now, we can prevent future tragedies and create a safer living environment for all.
