Fire safety legislation and standards
Straightforward explanations of the law and the British Standards that decide what your building needs — written by the team that installs and maintains the systems. If you would rather talk it through, get in touch or call 0191 466 1616.
Legislation
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 explained
The core piece of fire safety law for almost every non-domestic building in England and Wales — who it applies to and what it makes you do.
Read guideThe Fire Safety Act 2021: what changed for multi-occupied buildings
The clarification that pulled external walls, cladding, balconies and flat entrance doors firmly inside the scope of the fire risk assessment.
Read guideThe Building Safety Act 2022 and higher-risk buildings
The post-Grenfell regime for buildings at least 18 metres or seven storeys with two or more residential units.
Read guideThe Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022: duties by building height
The Grenfell Inquiry recommendations turned into law: what you must do in a block of flats at each height threshold.
Read guideStandards
BS 5839 fire alarm categories: L1 to L5, P1, P2 and M explained
Which alarm category your building needs, what each level of detection actually covers, and how servicing frequency is set.
Read guideBS 5266 emergency lighting: design, testing and duration explained
Where emergency lighting is required, what light levels it must achieve, and the monthly and annual testing that proves it works.
Read guide