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
BSI’s continued membership of CEN & CENELEC
BSI has issued the following statement concerning its continued membership of CEN & CENELEC who provide platforms for the development of European Standards and other technical specifications. As the adoption of harmonised European Norms is agreed by the European...
CITB Roadshows planned for March to May
CITB’s spring round of roadshows are planned between late March and May to allow communication with employers and also give insight into proposed levy rates following on from consensus this year. CITB will also be launching its Future Made careers campaign as well as...
North West Regional Contractors Forum – Building Regs, Training and Clean Air
The FIS North West Regional Contractors Forum took place in Central Manchester on the 22nd January 2020. Our group was hosted by Transport for Greater Manchester and we were treated to presentations by Wayne Timperley, Head of Building Control for Greater Manchester...