Fire Safety Regulations 2022: What They Mean For You

The Fire Safety Regulations 2022 will come into effect on the 23rd of January 2023, changing the management of fire safety in high-rise buildings in England. The new regulations come under Article 24 of the Fire Safety Order and implement recommendations from the Phase 1 report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. 

The new regulations apply to building owners or managers and how they identify and communicate critical information regarding fire and fire door safety. In this article, we will explain the meaning of the changes and how Adaston can ensure you remain compliant with the new legislation.

What’s the Law on Fire Risk Assessments?

The Fire Safety Regulations 2022 aim to improve safety in multi-occupied residential buildings, including blocks of flats, shared houses, and student accommodation. By law, these buildings must have a “Responsible Person” (RP) to oversee fire safety, but the new fire legislation adds extra duties to their list. 

These extra duties are covered by regulations 4-10, as outlined in the table below.

As per regulation 9, the RP must now display fire safety details in communal areas, including evacuation procedures that must be provided to residents annually or once they move in.

Furthermore, regulation 1 includes information about the importance of keeping fire doors closed and not tampering with self-closing devices. 

Extra Measures

The Fire Safety Regulations 2022 outline extra stipulations for the following residential premises: 

• Buildings over 11 metres in height with communal areas. 
• Buildings of 18 metres, with seven storeys and communal areas. 

Regulations 4-8 cover the extra responsibilities of the RP.

• 11 metre buildings

For extra safety, the RP must ensure communal fire doors are checked quarterly, and doors to flat entrances are evaluated annually. 

Fire doors are essential for maintaining fire compartmentation and minimising the spread of flames, smoke, and toxic gases in the event of a fire. Properly established fire door safety is essential for saving lives and protecting property. 

• 18 metre buildings

The largest buildings inherently require the most planning and strategy. So the RP for these high-rise premises must also share information about their structure with their local fire and rescue service (FRS). They need to share details of: 

• The external wall system throughout the building.
• The floor plans of the entire building. 
• Building plans

These details must be kept in a securely locked box (as per regulation 4) on-site with the name and contact information of the RP. The FRS must be able to easily access this box in the event of an emergency. Sharing this information helps emergency services to plan and respond to incidents in a safe and timely manner. 

Along with the records, the RP needs to: 

• Install wayfinding signage.
• Ensure monthly checks are carried out on critical fire-fighting equipment, such as lifts used by firefighters. 
• Report the equipment to the FRS if it’s out of order for 24 hours or more.

What does this mean for you?

The changes to the Fire Regulations 2022 mean that there is more responsibility on RPs to protect their residents. It means that the frequency of fire safety checks on your building will increase, including fire doors requiring evaluation quarterly and doors to flat entrances annually. We always recommend you consult a professional to survey your building to ensure everything is thoroughly examined. 

While new fire legislation generally results in changes that can be inconvenient, it is vital to reduce the chances of another tragedy like Grenfell.

At Adaston, it is our mission to understand every change to industry regulations and legislation to help you ensure your building remains safe and compliant. With our third-party accreditation, we’re a leading Passive Fire Protection provider in the UK and can assist with a comprehensive range of services, including fire door surveys and remedial work on your existing fire safety measures. 

Contact us today to ensure you are compliant with the Fire Safety Regulations 2022.