The Fire Safety Act 2021 came into force on 16 May 2022. It amends the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, clarifying that – in a multi-occupied residential building, containing two or more sets of domestic premises – the Order applies to:

The building’s structure and external walls (including windows, balconies, cladding, insulation and fixings) and any common parts; and
All doors between domestic premises and common parts, such as flat entrance doors (or any other relevant door).

The UK Government has now introduced the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, which seek to implement several recommendations from Phase 1 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The regulations came into force on 23 January 2023. The Regulations introduce new requirements for multi-occupied residential buildings, and different regulations apply depending on a building’s height. Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 take effect on 6 April 2026. Their purpose is to improve fire safety and evacuation for residents in certain buildings who may struggle to leave independently due to mobility issues, disabilities, or cognitive conditions. The Regulations also require a building-wide emergency evacuation plan. What building do these regulations cover? They apply to building with two or more domestic premises that are either:

18 metres or higher or seven storeys or more, or
Over 11 meters where simultaneous evacuation is used.

What are the requirements? The Responsible Person must:

Identify residents with mobility or other impairments and complete a person-centred fire risk assessment.
Produce a written Emergency Evacuation Statement for each relevant resident.
Review assessments at least every 12 months or earlier if circumstances change.
Share key details with the Fire Service, including:
Flat and floor numbers
Essential assistance information
Whether an Emergency Evacuation Statement exists.

This information may be stored in a secure premises information box for Fire Service use, alongside other required details under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022. The above must only be done with the resident’s permission. You can find out more by reading the Residential PEEPs: Guidance for Responsible Persons on GOV.UK. The Responsible Person must also create a building-wide emergency evacuation plan, provide it to the local Fire and Rescue Authority, and place a copy in the secure information box where one exists. This plan must be reviewed annually or when updated. Fact sheets in support of the above have been produced by the Government and can be found at Residential PEEPs: Factsheet - GOV.UK

Follow the menu links for more information about the different requirements:

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has collated some frequently asked questions about the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022. Fire Door Installers The importance of a properly installed and maintained fire door can never be stressed enough. Fire doors provide lifesaving passive protection from the effects of both heat and smoke. When a fire door is beyond repair, you will need to replace the door. The following are examples of how this fire service recommends the door is replaced:

The installation of a manufacturer certified doorset (Door, frame and fittings) fire rated to the correct specification and certified by the manufacturer. The installation should be completed by a third party accredited competent installer who would provide certification for the completed works.

This option is recommended by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service as being best practice.

The installation of a manufacturer certified door, using component parts rated to the correct specification and approved for use with the door in accordance with the manufactures instructions. The installation should be completed by a third party accredited competent installer who would provide certification for the completed works.

When a door or doorset is suspected as being defective, or no documentation exists for its installation, further assurance the fire door is effective will be required. When this occurs, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service may request the door or doors are assessed by a third-party accredited assessor, certified in the inspection of fire doors. Third-party certification means that the fire door manufacturer or installer is audited by an independent third party that checks that the fire door / fire doorset is tested appropriately. This process ensures fire doors are produced and installed to a consistent standard making them effective at saving lives. Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service cannot provide contact details for approved contractors. Advice on finding third party accredited contractors can be found using the following links which are sources known to the service at the time of writing this guidance note. BM TRADA Q-Mark Fire Door Installation scheme British Woodworking Federation Fire Door Alliance

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