The Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) has updated Approved Document B (Fire safety) Volume 1 (Dwellings) and Volume 2 (Buildings other than dwellings) of the Building Regulations to incorporate future amendments.
The new version of the Document incorporates the recent amendments in 2020 and 2022, along with the forthcoming amendments which are due to come into effect through to 2029.
The new version utilises a colour coding to clearly identify which amendments are effective from the specific dates:
2nd March 2025 (England) – Blue
- Requirement for the provision of fire safety information via Regulation 38.
- Withdrawal of national classifications for reaction to fire and roofs.
- Introduction of new provisions for sprinklers in care homes.
30th September 2026 (England) – Purple
- Recommendation for more than one common stair to be provided in blocks of flats higher than 18 metres.
- Building design provision to support the use of evacuation lifts in blocks of flats.
2nd September 2029 (England) – Orange
- Removal of BS476, which relates to fire tests for elements of structure and materials.
You can access the consolidated versions of Approved Document B (Volume 1 and 2) here.
If you have any questions about the contents of this article, please get in touch.
Whilst care has been taken in the production of this article and the information contained within it has been obtained from sources that Griffiths & Armour, an Aon company believes to be reliable, Griffiths & Armour, an Aon company does not warrant, represent or guarantee the accuracy, adequacy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of the article or any part of it and can accept no liability for any loss incurred in any way whatsoever by any person who may rely on it. In any case any recipient shall be entirely responsible for the use to which it puts this article.
This article has been compiled using information available to us up to 2 June 2025
