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
Welcome to our new members in October
During October, we welcomed two new companies to the FIS membership. Both are Contractor Members: Archway Building Services and SJP Contracts Ltd. We look forward to a long and successful relationship with our new and existing members.
Free event – Building Inner Wellbeing
The Construction Industry Council (CIC) is holding a free evening event on 28 November 2017 focusing on mental health and wellbeing within the industry. Presentations will be given by Building Site to Boardroom, a not-for-profit organisation supporting mental...
Do you comply with the Modern Slavery Act?
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 became law on 26 March 2015, with a 'supply chain clause' being added to the bills to force businesses to make public their efforts to stop the use of slave labour by its suppliers. Since 29 October 2015, the Transparency in Supply Chain...