Date Published 27 January 2023
On 23rd January 2023, new fire safety regulations were implemented to tackle the majority of inquiry recommendations from the Grenfell Tower tragedy. These are new requirements for ‘responsible persons' of mid and high-rise blocks of flats to provide information to fire and rescue services to assist them with operational planning and provide additional safety measures. In any multi-occupational residential buildings, residents should now be provided with fire safety instructions and information on fire doors.
In high-rise residential buildings, responsible persons will be required to:
1) Provide their local fire and rescue service with up-to-date electronic building plans and information on the design and materials of their external wall.
2) Undertake monthly checks of firefighting lifts, evacuation lifts and other key pieces of firefighting equipment.
3) Install a secure information box and wayfinding signage.
In mid-rise residential buildings (over 11 metres), responsible persons will be required to undertake annual checks of flat entrance doors and quarterly checks of all fire doors in the common part.
