Update to the Approved Document B: Fire safety published

On 29 March 2024, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities published an update to the Approved Document B: Fire Safety Volume 1 (Dwellings) and Volume 2 (Buildings other than Dwellings).

The updates have not been incorporated into the Approved Documents yet, but are expected to be made in due course. The changes will apply from 30 September 2026.

The 2019 edition incorporating the 2020 and 2022 amendments will continue to apply where a building notice or an initial notice has been given to, or a building control approval application with full plans made to, the relevant authority before 30 September 2026 and either the building work to which it relates:

• has started and is sufficiently progressed before that day; or
• is started and is sufficiently progressed within 18 months beginning on that day.

The changes focus on the following fire safety provisions:

• new recommendation for more than one common stair to be provided in blocks of flats with a storey 18m or more in height.
• building design provisions to support the use of evacuation lifts in blocks of flats.

Changes to Approved Document B: Fire safety Volume 1 - Dwellings

The main focus on the amendments to this document cover the:

• design of horizontal and vertical escape routes from flats that have communal means of escape;
• required number, design and construction of common stairs.

Additionally the changes involve new or reworked definitions, including:

• evacuation lift;
• exit passageway;
• evacuation lift lobby;
• evacuation shaft;
• interlocked stair; and
• storey exit.

Lastly, the amendments to this document include provisions for fire doorsets included in the Table C1 to that Approved Document.

Changes to Approved Document B: Fire safety Volume 2 - Buildings other than dwellings

The amendments to this document involve addition of new definitions, including:

• evacuation lift;
• exit passageway;
• evacuation lift lobby;
• evacuation shaft;
• interlocked stair; and
• storey exit.

For more information on this subject, see:

• Amendments to the Approved Documents - Approved Document B: Fire safety volumes 1 and 2
• Building Regulations (England) Approved Document B - Volume 1: Fire Safety (Dwellings);
• Building Regulations (England) Approved Document B - Volume 2: Fire Safety (Buildings other than Dwellings);
• Building Regulations SI 2010/2214.