As the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 come into force today (23 January 2023), industry voices have praised how the legislation will motivate fire safety compliance
The new Fire Safety Regulations 2022 currently only apply to England and were developed in response to the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report.
The new regulations aim to create better communication regarding fire risk information between Responsible Persons and residents.
Responsible Persons have clearer legal obligations to their residents and fire services
This includes providing information on fire risks to residents in a format they will understand, as well as providing Fire and Rescue Services with up-to-date information to assist their response to incidents.
This information involves providing floor plans, information on external wall construction (when appropriate) and faults with facilities provided for the Fire Rescue Service, such as fire lifts (if they are likely to be defective for more than 24 hours).
The new Fire Safety Regulations 2022 have recieved positive response from industry voices
Construction industry experts have praised how the regulations will encourage a safety-first approach to construction.
Rob Norton, UK regional director at Plan Radar, said: “2023 is the year that contractors have to get to grips with fire safety. These latest changes are symbolic of a wider sentiment – the government has fire safety compliance in its sights.
“By placing greater emphasis on the Responsible Person (RP), the risk of potential prosecution and heavy fines will no doubt be an effective motivator and should go some way to improving the lackadaisical approach to safety checks – particularly around fire doors.
“Businesses now need to be solutions-driven. Opting for digital platforms that can capture and record evidence of fire assessments and completed work will be instrumental in meeting these new legal requirements. Incorporating a digital-first approach will also help to fill the skills gap left by a lack of fire engineers and eliminate human error throughout fire safety assessments.”
Creating a better understanding of fire safety and sustainability in construction materials
Steve Callow, housing manager, MPA Masonry, commented: “The new regulations are a welcome step forward and will push housebuilders and developers to demonstrate best practice, and certify all building products used in residential construction are safe within the specified system.
“It’s clear we need to adopt a more Safety-first approach to the way we build and, hopefully, these tougher regulations do just that. I hope it will finally put an end to value engineering and create a far more robust framework for fire inspection. I hope it will also make developers think carefully about the types of materials used.
The regulations will ensure safety in future housebuilding efforts
“Only a month ago, the National Fire Chiefs Council highlighted the significant risks posed by modular and engineered timber for high-rise urban construction. This should make those developers tempted by these methods to think carefully. It’s not to say they don’t have their place in modern construction, but they need to be considered in line with the new regulations and incoming gateways.
“Affordable homes are the goal of both government and the wider housebuilding sector. However, we should never rush into building new homes at the expense of occupant safety. Let’s look to those materials with a proven track record for fire resistance. Masonry is perfectly suited to meet these new requirements, as it’s perfect for cavity wall construction, inherently non-combustible and it lowers fire risk by ensuring greater structural integrity. Occupant safety is paramount to all these considerations, and masonry is perfectly placed to deliver upon this.”
