If you're the Accountable Person (AP) for your building, you now have even more fire safety responsibilities.
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 place additional duties on the Responsible Person on top of what they have under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Here's a quick rundown of those duties.
The Regulations apply to all blocks of flats and student accommodation in England, including buildings with mixed-use residential and commercial parts. They cover the common parts of buildings, not the flats themselves. Buildings above 11 and 18 metres have more requirements, as they are deemed higher risk.
⚠️ The consequences for breaking the Regulations are the same as breaching the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The Responsible Person may be issued an enforcement, alteration or prohibition notice from a Fire and Rescue Authority. Those breaching fire safety regulations can receive unlimited fines or prison sentences of up to 2 years.
You must keep a record of these checks.
The following information must be submitted electronically to the nearest fire and rescue service:
The following information for fire and rescue services should be kept in a secure box on the premises:
Check these items monthly. If you detect any faults during your checks, fix these immediately within 24 hours. If you cannot do this, the faults must be reported to your local fire and rescue services.
Each floor should have:
If you would like to know exactly how to comply with the new regulations, download a copy of our Action Guide: Changes to Fire Safety in England. You’ll find the exact steps you need to take at each stage, as well as links to relevant resources to ensure you get it right the first time. Remember: penalties are not worth the risk. 👇