The Government has published a document listing amendments to Volumes 1 and 2 of Approved Document B which will come into effect in September 2026.
These amendments principally concern:
- Threshold for the provision of a second staircase in blocks of flats with a storey 18m or more in height.
- Evacuation shafts are introduced to support the provision of evacuation lifts.
- Changes to provisions for fire doorsets.
- New terminology including definitions for evacuation shaft, evacuation lift lobby, interlocked stair and storey exit.
- Provisions for horizontal escape and vertical escape separated as per the structure of Volume 2.
The 2019 edition incorporating the 2020 and 2022 amendments will continue to apply where a building notice or an initial notice has been given to, or a building control approval application with full plans made to, the relevant authority before 30 September 2026 and either the building work to which it relates:
- has started and is sufficiently progressed before that day; or
- is started and is sufficiently progressed within the period of 18 months beginning on that day
You can view the amendments at the link below:
Fire safety: Approved Document B
FIS will publish further detailed guidance on these changes in the coming months.
See more news likes this
Cabinet Office creates visual toolkit for businesses for the mourning the Queen
The Cabinet Office has created a visual toolkit for partners, businesses, trade organisations, ALBs and the public sector during this time of mourning to show the country speaking with one voice of unity. Click here to access
Update regarding the bank holiday arrangement for the Queen’s funeral
As the nation enters a period of national mourning, arrangements are being made for our late Queen’s funeral. King Charles has made an order that the day of the Queen’s funeral will be a bank holiday. Whilst employers will want to make their own decisions about how to...
National Mourning – Guidance for Construction Operations in London
CLC has produced advice for London based operations in and around central London during the mourning period. You can download the document here. Cognisant of the need for a collaborative effort in this sensitive period and also that many businesses are already under...