Guidance

Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats

How to ensure fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats and practical advice on assessing risk and managing fire safety in such buildings.

From:
Home Office
Published
7 June 2021
Last updated
2 December 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England and Wales

Documents

Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats

PDF, 2.67 MB, 193 pages

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Details

This document is a guide to ensuring adequate fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats, regardless of age. Practical advice is offered on how to assess the risk from fire and how to manage fire safety in such buildings. The document also includes case studies based on the commonly found issues in blocks of flats, with suggested fire safety solutions.

The guide was originally produced in 2011 and summarised the legislation, guidance and best practice at the time of writing and should be viewed as no longer comprehensive. The Home Office is working on a revised version of this guide which we intend to publish in 2025. In the interim, it is continued to be made available to fire safety professionals as it contains relevant and useful information for purpose-built blocks of flats.

In particular, the position laid out in regard to vulnerable persons in paragraphs 79.9 to 79.11 is subject to developing policy, through the Personal Emergency Evacuations Plan consultation which closed on 19 July 2021, and the Emergency Evacuation Information Sharing Plus consultation (the EEIS+ consultation), which ran from 18 May to 21 August 2022.  The government’s response to the EEIS+ consultation was published on 2 December 2024.

Responsible persons should note that they remain responsible for fire safety in their premises and should identify and implement measures specific to their premises and the people in them – their duties are unaffected by the removal of these paragraphs.

This guide has been published by the Secretary of State under Article 50 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) to assist responsible persons in meeting their duties under the FSO.

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Updates to this page

Published 7 June 2021
Last updated 2 December 2024 + show all updates

  1. Updated to link to the Emergency Evacuation Information Sharing Plus consultation response.

  2. Updated guidance is now planned for 2024.

  3. Webpage updated to summarise the legislative status of the guidance.

  4. Uploaded a revised document.

  5. Updated the 3rd paragraph.

  6. Removal of paragraphs relating to the evacuation of vulnerable persons while the government responds to the Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan Consultation.

  7. Updated page as the Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans consultation has finished.

  8. Consultation on Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans now open.

  9. First published.

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