Approved Document B: Fire Safety. Current and future changes with historical documentation

[edit] Recent publications

[edit] The Statutory guidance. Fire safety: Approved Document B

On 14 January 2025 the government updated its statutory guidance on Approved Document Part B. Key to this are the changes that will come into effect from March 2025. In a step change in publications, the statutory guidance. Fire safety: Approved Document B includes Volume 1 and 2 with the existing changes that came into effect in 2019, 2020, and 2022, respectively, but also now includes in a single document the 2025, 2026, and 2029 amendments. The guidance also provides individual documents highlighting the 2025, 2026, and 2029 amendments to Approved Document B, volumes 1 and 2.

[edit] Guidance: Historical documents relating to Approved Document B: Fire Safety

Also on 14 January a collection of historical documents relating to Approved Document B was published by the government: Guidance: Historical documents relating to Approved Document B: Fire Safety. This includes previous versions of Approved Documents B that are no longer in use, associated FAQs, and archived amendment booklets. Shortly after, on 16 January, in the RIBA detailed response to the final Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report, it highlighted that 'Following ADB updates made in 2024 and previous years, it would also be beneficial to have a clearer amendment tracking system under each piece of guidance—ADB now has a lot of documents listed.' All of the currently available Approved Documents for Part B (ADB) can be found via 'Statutory guidance. Fire safety: Approved Document B'. See also the article Archive of the Approved Documents.

[edit] Changes effective from 2 March 2025 in brief

[edit] Regulation 38: Fire safety information

Parties carrying out work on 'relevant buildings' must give fire safety information to the responsible person before or by completion, prior to occupation. The responsible persons must acknowledge receipt and confirm it is sufficient to "understand, operate, and maintain the building (and the fire safety systems in it)." Notice must be given to the relevant authority with self-certification schemes 30 days after fire safety information was given, otherwise 5 days after. Where third party certification schemes are in place, the same applies as above but with a 7-day handover of information and a 30-day notice period for the relevant authority (Page 111). As such, the whole of Section 17: Fire Safety Information has been replaced with new text (112). The fire safety information required for complex buildings has been expanded, now requiring extensive documentation of fire safety strategies, including detailed "cause and effect" plans covering fire systems, management assumptions, and operational procedures.

[edit] National fire testing class standards withdrawn and material performance increased

The outdated national classes for fire testing standards will be withdrawn and replaced by the more rigorous, internationally recognised European standard BS EN 13501. This standardisation applies to reaction-to-fire assessments and roof coverings, ensuring uniform testing and performance benchmarks across materials and structures. Fire resistance and smoke penetration testing methods are aligned with updated British and European standards, increasing material performance and reliability requirements. The revised standards for thermoplastics now define strict requirements, such as burning rates and thickness for rigid and flexible materials; conformity to BS EN 13501-5 for roof coverings is required with additional guidance on performance and testing. There will be a transition period of six months for ‘reaction to fire’ standards and five years for ‘fire resistance,’ allowing manufacturers time to retest products. The British Standards index within the document has been revised to eliminate outdated references and include the latest standards, ensuring alignment with current guidance.

[edit] New Sprinkler Regulations in Care Homes

All care homes will be required to install sprinkler systems throughout their facilities, enhancing fire safety for vulnerable residents. This requirement applies regardless of building height. Changes also include the requirement for a maximum of a double bed per room.

[edit] Changes for 2026 and 2029

The indication is that the most significant changes will be effective from 30 September 2026, addressing fire safety improvements in high-rise residential buildings, with new requirements for all buildings over 18 meters in height to have two staircases, as well as evacuation lifts.

Whilst on 2 September 2029, the final amendment to Approved Document B is planned to come into effect, focusing on removing BS 476 from the approved document (the determination factor for appropriate fire tests of structure and material elements) and replacing this with the European Standard (BS EN) as the sole route for specification within Approved Document B for fire resistance classifications.

All part B documents from 2019, 2020, and 2022, 2025, 2026, and 2029, as well as separate documents highlighting changes for the relevant years, can be found via the statutory guidance. Fire safety: Approved Document B. For context see Guidance: Historical documents relating to Approved Document B: Fire Safety.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Fire.
• Fire and rescue service.
• Fire authority.
• Fire compartment.
• Fire detection and alarm system.
• Fire inspector.
• Fire marshal.
• Fire Prevention on Construction Sites.
• Fire protection engineering.
• Fire safety certification from CIOB.
• Joint fire code.
• Means of escape.
• Responsible person.
• The need for company fire risk assessments.
• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.