The UK Government has announced the arrival of new fire safety regulations, set to come into force in January of 2023. The Fire Safety Act 2022 (FSA) is not set to replace the Fire Safety Order 2005 (FSO), rather it is designed to expand and clarify some existing points.
The FSA affects buildings that contain more than one residence, and clarifies that the arrangements set out in the FSO apply to the entire structure of a building, the external walls, and any doors that separate domestic and common parts of a building.
Fire Safety Regulations
These Regulations seek to improve the fire safety of high-rise residential buildings
This will include all balconies, cladding, fittings, insulation, and windows that may be part of a building structure. Some of which were deemed to be key factors in the severity of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Responsible Persons will acquire additional responsibilities under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, which are due to come into force on 23 January 2023.
These Regulations seek to improve the fire safety of high-rise residential buildings by implementing most of the recommendations made by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in its Phase 1 report.
Responsible person
These Regulations will apply in England and require that the Responsible Person of a multi-occupied residential building take specific action depending on the height of the building.
Under the new regulations, the ‘responsible person’ for each building should ensure that the fire risk assessments carried out for properties under their control accurately reflect the new requirements. As with all fire risk assessments, it’s vital that any potential fire risks are removed or amended within the building.
Special care
Special care and attention should be taken when assessing the risks associated with material changes to the building, such as changes to a building such as repairs, refurbishments, or alterations are being carried out, as these can often have a detrimental effect on how fire and smoke spread throughout a building if not managed carefully.
Increased scrutiny is to be put on the appointment of fire risk assessors
As the responsible person, they may also be required to highlight that one has adequately assessed fire risks associated with the new requirements set out within the Fire Safety Act.
Increased scrutiny is to be put on the appointment of fire risk assessors, with assessments only to be carried out by a ‘competent professional.’
Fire risk assessors
At Total Fire Group, their fire risk assessment methodology, template, and approach to fire risk have been developed, reviewed, and adapted over the last 16 years in business. All their assessors ensure consistency of approach to the recording of the significant findings and risk analysis.
The FRA will assist the Responsible Person in identifying significant findings that are clear breaches of the Fire Safety Order and the new Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, set to come into effect from 2023, with priority, risk, and time scales recorded to action the findings.
Their process will also identify fire risks that may be outside the scope of the Fire Safety Order, but could present a property or business continuity risk.
