The government has launched a public consultation on proposed updates to Approved Document B, the statutory guidance supporting fire safety requirements in the building regulations in England.
聽The consultation covers a package of proposed changes to fire safety guidance, including:
- new guidance on evacuation lifts in residential buildings over 18 metres, to support the safe evacuation of residents who may not be able to use stairs
- changes to guidance for specialised housing, including the treatment of alarm coverage and sprinklers
- revised guidance on fire spread across external walls, balconies, and roofs, including roof鈥憁ounted photovoltaic panels
- updated guidance on fire resistance in car parks
- a small number of technical updates and clarifications, and
- consideration of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 recommendation on British Standard BS 9414, relating to how the fire performance of external cladding systems is assessed in guidance.
The consultation is seeking views on whether the proposed guidance is clear, workable and proportionate, and on the potential impacts on building design, construction, and fire safety practice. Responses will help inform decisions on whether and how Approved Document B should be updated in future.
The government is proposing that any changes arising from this consultation should be given a long lead time and come into effect from September 2029.
Keeping Approved Document B under continuous review is part of the wider programme to strengthen fire safety standards and the building safety system in the wake of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 recommendation on clearer standards and expectations for the assessment of external wall systems.
The consultation runs for 12 weeks until 17th June 2026 and can be found