Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats

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 2023.2024. 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 responses to the EEIS+ consultation are currently being reviewed and the government will publish a response in due course.

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.