Latest publications and updates:
Approved Document B
The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) are seeking views on proposed changes to statutory fire safety guidance in Approved Document B, updating external wall guidance and recommending new provision of evacuation lifts.
This consultation will close on 17 June 2026. Further information can be found here.
Proportionality in Building Control: categorisation of higher-risk building work
The MHCLG consultation sets out changes to how Category A and Category B building work is defined, so that documentation requirements better reflect the scale and complexity of the work.
The proposals aim to maintain safety standards while reducing unnecessary administrative burden for applicants and helping the BSR focus on higher risk and more complex cases.
The consultation also asks for feedback on supporting guidance and whether certain types of low risk work could be suitable for future Competent Person Schemes.
The consultation will close on 28 May 2026. Further information can be found here.
Fire Risk Assessors Profession
This MHCLG consultation covers the following areas:
– the future development of the fire risk assessor profession;
– the powers needed to regulate the fire risk assessor profession; and
– implementation approaches for competency requirements in the fire risk assessor profession.
The consultation will close on 18 June 2026. Further information can be found here.
BS 8414 tests
The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) and the Fire Industry Association (FIA) are seeking support from the fire safety community to help improve access to BS 8414 test data that is not currently in the public domain. The IFE and FIA are looking to provide an independent platform to help publicise those test reports, but only with the permission of the company who sponsored the test.
More information can be found here.
