Dec 19 2006
Key improvements to fire safety lie at the heart of a package of measures, including greater recognition of the role of sprinklers and more help for fire fighters to deal with fires in tall buildings, have been announced by the Government today.
The revisions to Part B (Fire safety) of the Building Regulations and supporting guidance in Approved Document B reflect recent experiences of actual fires, developments in construction, research findings and comprehensive stakeholder engagement, including a four-month public consultation exercise.
Fire and Building Regulations Minister Angela Smith, said protecting people from fire in their homes and workplace remains a key element of Government policy on fire safety.
“This package represents better, more focussed regulation that will deliver real benefits for both occupants and fire fighters alike. Indeed the review that led to the changes looked at fire safety in all types of premises including dwellings, residential care homes, public buildings and warehouses. It also considered the important role sprinklers and other types of fire protection measures may have, particularly in buildings where the occupants are most at risk from fire."
The changes, which come into force on 6 April 2007, will affect future building work in England and Wales, such as the erection, extension or material alteration of a building, and how fire safety is designed into a building. They also include amendments to the guidance on domestic loft conversions, the use of door-closing devices in dwellings and the provision of sprinklers in tall blocks of flats.
For non-domestic buildings, the key changes include the introduction of a maximum unsprinklered compartment size for single storey warehouses, new guidance on residential care homes (including on the use of sprinklers) and a new requirement to ensure occupiers are made aware of their building's fire protection measures so as to assist with the preparation of fire risk assessments under the new Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order regime.
It is important that provisions must be fully evidence-based and justified and are taken forward in a robust and efficient manner.
A number of changes are specifically designed to make the guidance more accessible and easier to use (such as splitting the guidance into Approved Document B - Volume 1: Dwellinghouses and Approved Document B - Volume 2: Buildings other than Dwellinghouses), to provide further clarity and guidance, to introduce further design freedoms and flexibilities and/or to provide better regulation.
The changes to the Building Regulations also include the authorisation of several new competent persons self-certification schemes that will enhance compliance, particularly in respect of the energy efficiency requirements of the Regulations, and a number of other minor amendments, which will come into force on 15 January.
A Departmental Circular setting out the legislative changes and the main changes in Approved Document B has also been published today, together with the final Regulatory Impact Assessment for the fire safety elements of the package and a number of associated research reports.