Actions required following the issue of new regulations

Health warning! This is Jan’s list. The reader is advised to confirm with others before assuming its accuracy.

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 from 23 January 2023

AND

Clause 156 of the Building Safety Act “Provision of information to residents of domestic premises” No implementation date yet ( 12/9/22)

Important to note:  the regulations are not intended to capture maisonettes, where two flats exist within a converted house and there are no “common parts” through which an individual would evacuate in the event of a fire. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fire-safety-england-regulations-2022/fact-sheet-overview)

Applies to buildings
at least 18 metres or 7 storeys	Regulation 4; Secure Information Boxes
	To contain:
	Name and contact details of RP and anyone else connected with the building deemed appropriate
	Floor plans showing key fire-fighting equipment (as listed below)
	Single page block plan showing key fire-fighting equipment
at least 18 metres or 7 storeys	Regulation 5; Design and materials of external walls
	External Wall Systems info to FRS and level of risk (Regulation 11 states this has to be provided electronically)
	Guidance to be produced
ALL	Generally:  All FRAs need to consider the external wall as part of the assessment
at least 18 metres or 7 storeys	Regulation 6; Floor plans and building plans
	Hard copies in SIBs and electronically sent to FRS (as stated in Regulation 11)
	Floor plans showing key fire-fighting equipment (as listed below)
	Single page block plan showing key fire-fighting equipment
at least 18 metres or 7 storeys	Regulation 7; Lifts and essential fire-fighting equipment
	Monthly checks will be required for:
	lifts for use by fire fighters
	evacuation lifts
	inlets for dry-rising mains
	inlets for wet-rising mains
	outlets for dry-rising mains
	outlets for wet-rising mains
	smoke control systems
	suppression systems
	fire detection and fire alarm systems including any detectors linked to ancillary equipment such as smoke control systems (in the common parts),
	evacuation alert systems
	automatic door release mechanisms linked to fire alarm systems
	Guidance will be issued to specify which pieces of equipment are subject to a visual inspection or other checks. It is not intended that specialists will be needed for the checks. FRS to be told (as soon as practicable) if a fault cannot be resolved within 24 hours
at least 18 metres or 7 storeys	Regulation 8; Wayfinding signage
	Signage visible in low light flat and floor numbers to comply with ADB (Vol 1 2019 edition incorporating 2020 amendments)
at least 11 metres	But a requirement in all new buildings above 11 metres
ALL	Regulation 9; Information to residents 9 (Applies to ALL multi-occupied residential buildings)
	Responsible persons will need to provide residents with instructions on:
	how to report a fire
	a reminder of what the evacuation strategy is for that building, and;
	any other instruction that tells residents what they must do once a fire has occurred, based on the building’s evacuation strategy.
	Responsible persons should display these instructions clearly in their building’s communal areas (such as the building’s lobby or any conspicuous part of the building) and share directly with residents when they move into the building. This information will need to be re-provided in both the communal area and to residents when a document is updated. This information must also be re-provided to residents on an annual basis. (the information should be in a “comprehensible” form)
above 11 metres	Regulation 10; Fire doors – properties above 11 metres
	Undertake quarterly checks of all fire doors (including self-closing devices) in the common parts; and,
	Undertake – on a best endeavour basis – annual checks of all flat entrance doors (including self-closing devices) that lead onto a building’s common parts. Records need to be kept of the steps taken to comply with this requirement where access hasn’t been granted and what has been done to try to gain access
ALL
ALL	The minimum requirement is for the responsible person to undertake an inspection of the doors to identify any obvious damage or issues. It should not be necessary to engage a specialist for these checks as the responsible person should be able to carry out these checks themselves. There are several useful guides available online which can support a responsible person in undertaking checks.
	A responsible person should consider:
	If there has been any alterations or damage to a door’s glazing apertures or air transfer grille
	If there are any gaps around the door frame and that seals and hinges are fitted correctly
	That the door closer shuts the door
	That the door closes correctly around the whole frame
	That there is no visible damage (either deliberate or from wear and tear) to the door or door closer
	If any issues are identified from these checks, it might be appropriate to undertake more detailed checks of doors (or the self-closing device) if any damage is identified from the initial inspection. This could include engaging a specialist.
ALL	The regulations will also require responsible persons to provide to residents of all multi-occupied residential buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises (that have common parts) information on the importance of fire doors to a building’s fire safety.
All	PEEPS/EEIS
	Whilst the responses to the consultation are being considered it would be sensible to be ensure PCFRAs are already being completed in sheltered blocks, as well as those blocks with a waking watch. Having a process in place to reduce the risks for mobility impaired residents, and a plan for an assisted escape, should it become necessary ought to be in place for all properties (including ground floor properties)
	In addition
	Maintenance issues
	New regulation from 1 October 2022
	Smoke alarms on every storey in each property and a carbon monoxide alarm is in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers).
	There is a need to review existing arrangements for dealing with faults to individual alarms to ensure there is a prompt response, and that it is properly recorded
	Fire doors: arrangements for dealing with faults/repairs Care needs to be taken re door warranties and competence of operatives
	Electrical testing consultation underway. If you are not already testing properties every 5 years, it would be sensible to begin to review how void electric checks are recorded and begin to plan to introduce those checks across all properties
	Generally:  All FRAs need to consider the external wall and balconies as part of the assessment
ALL	Clause 156 of the Building Safety Act “Provision of information to residents of domestic premises”.  As at 12 September 2022, no implementation date yet proposed
	21A (1) This article applies in relation to a building containing two or more sets of domestic premises. (2) The responsible person must give residents of the domestic premises comprehensible and relevant information about the relevant fire safety matters (3) The relevant fire safety matters are— the risks to residents of the domestic premises identified by the risk assessment; the preventive and protective measures; the name of the responsible person and an address in the United Kingdom at which the responsible person, or someone acting on their behalf, will accept notices and other documents; the identity of any person appointed by the responsible person to assist them with making or reviewing an assessment under article 9; the identity of any persons nominated by the responsible person under article 13(3)(b); any risks of which the responsible person has been informed under article 22(1)(c);

Click to access housing-manager-actions-v5-with-amends-and-updates-1.pdf