The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 have introduced new duties which will affect building owners or managers. It comes as a result of the inquiry into the devastating effects of the Grenfell Tower.
Why this, why now?
The Fire Safety Regulations 2022 in England will implement the recommendations made by the Grenfell Tower
Grenfell Tower was perhaps one of the most memorable fires in recent British history. It was shown on all channels as the catastrophic event began to unfold.
On 14th June 2017 a fire destroyed Grendell Tower, a huge residential building went up in flames within minutes. Sadly, seventy-two people died as the disaster took place.
In order to prevent another disastrous event in the future, the Fire Safety Regulations 2022 in England will implement the majority of the recommendations made by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in its Phase 1 report which required a change in the law.
What does that mean for building owners or managers?
Any high-rise buildings standing at least 18 metres must share information with local fire and rescue services
Primarily, this means an improvement in the current regulations in order to prevent such an incident again. The regulations are in the persusit of pracial, cost effective solutions for fire safety within blocks of flats.
The regulations will come into force on 23 January 2023 following the publication of guidance (which was published on 6 December 2022).
Any high-rise buildings standing at least 18 metres in height or more than 7 stories with multiple occupancy, must share information with local fire and rescue services. This includes information about the building’s external wall system/cladding and electronic copies of floor/building plans.
Emergency compliance guide
In order to aid the speed of repsonse and to enable the fire service to complete a rescue, hard copies of floor plans and oreientation plans of the buildings, will be required to be given along with a name and contact detail of the person responsible for the storage of the information for fire fighters.
Although much of this seems like common sense, it is these small but very significant changes that could prove vital when it comes to saving lives. This includes visible sinage in low ligh conditions, monthly checks of lifts for the use of firefighters and their essential equipment. Furthermore, the Fire and Rescue Service must be informed if the lift used by firefighters is out of service for more than 24 hours.
Are the new regulations the same for everyone?
The guidance listed above is not only becoming standard practice but it is good practise. Additional checks must also be put in place for buildings over 11 metres tall.
They involve a responsible person undertaking quarterly checks on communal fire doors and flat entrance doors, providing residents with relevant fire safety instructions and the importance of the doors. Again, life-saving information.
How can we help?
Cobra Fire and Security always work in line with the Fire Safety Act and maintain up-to-date with training, regulations and recommendations in order to provide the highest and safest level of service. Cobra can therefore perform the necessary checks for the person(s) responsible for the building to aid the implementation and conforming of these and other rules and regulations.
