Event Details

The Government has launched a consultation on improving proportionality and building safety outcomes in the building control categorisation of higher‑risk building (HRB) work. The consultation is now live and open for responses until 28 May 2026.

The proposals seek views on how Category A and Category B building work in existing higher‑risk buildings is defined and assessed by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), with the aim of ensuring that regulatory oversight and documentation requirements are proportionate to the scale and risk of the work, without compromising safety standards.

Why this matters to FIS Members

The consultation recognises that not all work carried out within a higher‑risk building carries the same level of safety risk, and asks whether certain types of work, including some tenant fit‑out or internal works , should attract different levels of building control scrutiny and documentation requirements.

For fit‑out contractors, this raises important practical questions, including:

• when Gateway 2 approval and full documentation requirements may apply;
• where responsibility sits when tenant works interface with life‑safety or structural systems;
• and how proportionality can be applied without undermining building safety outcomes.

Maintaining safety while improving proportionality

The Government is keen to point out that the proposals are not a dilution of safety requirements. All building work must continue to comply with the functional requirements of the Building Regulations, and the BSR will retain oversight of safety‑critical work. 

Instead, the consultation explores whether the current categorisation system could be refined so that regulatory effort is focused on the highest‑risk and most complex activities, allowing lower‑risk works to proceed more efficiently.  

FIS CEO Iain McIlwee stated:

“We are still considering this proposal in detail, but on the surface it looks to be a positive intervention that reflects discussions FIS has had with the Regulator on proportionality and where the full Gateway Process can become a barrier to improvement works.”

FIS next steps

FIS encourages members , particularly those involved in fit‑out, refurbishment and mixed‑use projects , to review the consultation and consider how the proposals may affect day‑to‑day delivery and compliance.

Members are invited to feed initial comments and observations to FIS. FIS will be running a member webinar on Monday 18 May to explore the consultation in more detail and to shape a final industry response before the consultation closes.

The consultation can be accessed here:
Improving proportionality and building safety outcomes in building control: categorisation of higher-risk building work – GOV.UK

Event Details

FIS is holding our first Operable Wall working group of 2026 at the Saint Gobain Solutions Centre in London.  We have a strong ongoing agenda of work by, and for, our members in the sector. Members will also have the opportunity to raise any of your own concerns or propose activities that will support improvement.

Agenda:

• Lunch & Networking
• Regulatory reform | A review of the government white paper, the general safety requirement and the role of PAS 2000
• Acoustic Verification Scheme | Update on expansion of scheme and “installer verification” pilot
• e-Learning and guidance | Assessing priorities and training gaps
• Specifiers guide | Update on drafting and publication
• AOB

Event Details

Date: 19 May 2026

Location: Fire Protection Association, Pembroke House, Banbury Business Park, Aynho Rd, Adderbury, Banbury OX17 3NS

Timings: 11:00 – 15:00

FIS is holding our first 2026 meeting of the newly named Partitions, Pods & Doors working group at the offices of the Fire Protection Association (FPA).  We have a strong ongoing agenda of work by, and for, our members in the sector. Members will also have the opportunity to raise any of your own concerns or propose activities that will support improvement.

Agenda:

• 11:00 – Arrival & Networking
• 11:30 – Start
• Regulatory reform | A review of the government white paper, the general safety requirement and the role of PAS 2000
• Conformity Marking | Scope of EU/UK CPR and OPSS interventions
• 13:00 – Lunch and tour of FPA training facilities
• Acoustic Verification Scheme | Update on expansion of scheme and “installer verification” pilot
• EXAPs | Understanding EN 15725
• BS 8214 | Changes to the fire door code of practice
• e-Learning and guidance | Assessing priorities and training gaps
• AOB

Event Details

With an estimated 49.6 million victims of modern slavery worldwide, and an estimated 100,000 victims in the UK in 2020, reports of the value of at-risk products consumed by G20 countries annually totals $354 billion.

No supply chain can be considered risk free, and with increasing regulatory due diligence requirements, focus from the investment community through ESG reporting, and more informed consumer expectations, organisations need to raise the bar when it comes to tackling modern slavery issues.

Duration: 1 hour

Qualifies towards your CPD

To receive your CPD accreditation and for this to be tracked through your Supply Chain Sustainability School dashboard make sure your full name is reflected on your Zoom account when you join the session.

Please note, if you fail to meet the attendance requirements, unfortunately you will not be issued a CPD Certificate.

What will I achieve? 

By the end of this webinar, you will:
• An understanding of what modern slavery is, the current landscape and trends (UK and global perspectives)
• Insights on how to spot the signs of modern slavery
• Clarity around the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and future impact
• Tips and points around competency frameworks and training needs for everyone in your organisation
• Insights into some of the key risk categories – both in your operations and your supply chain
• Free videos, toolkits, e-learning, templates and learning pathways