What the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 mean for responsible persons

From 23rd January 2023, new regulations will come into force in England with requirements for responsible persons of high-rise residential buildings.

The definition of requirements for a responsible person for a ‘high‑rise residential building’ varies depending on the height. The legal definition of a ‘responsible person’ is covered in the Fire Safety Order and it is not open to building owners, enforcing authorities or others to choose to “make” someone the responsible person. More information can be found in this government guidance.

What is the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022?

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, being introduced under Article 24 of the Fire Safety Order, stipulate that a responsible person will be required to provide information on their high-rise blocks of flats to their local fire and rescue service (FRS). This is to assist them in planning for, and responding to, an incident in their building.

The regulations will also require responsible persons in multi‑occupied residential buildings, which are high‑rise buildings, as well as those above 11 metres in height, to provide additional safety measures.

What information will need to be shared with FRS?

Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, the responsible person will be required to share the following information via electronic means with their local FRS:

• Details of the construction of the external walls, floor and building plans
• Information on known faults with key firefighting equipment

There is a tool on the Fire England website to support responsible persons with identifying their local fire and rescue service. Each FRS will put in place arrangements for receiving electronic copies of external wall reports, floor and building plans and fault reports.

What are the responsibilities of the responsible person?

In all multi-occupied residential buildings, the regulations require responsible persons to provide residents with fire safety information, including:

• How to report a fire
• What a resident must do once a fire has occurred
• The importance of fire doors

In multi-occupied residential buildings of over 11 metres in height, there are additional requirements for responsible persons as set out by the regulations. In addition to the above, these include:

• Carrying out annual checks of flat entrance doors
• Undertaking quarterly checks of all fire doors in common parts

Further requirements for responsible persons (RP) are stipulated for high-rise residential buildings at least 18 metres tall or seven storeys in height. These include:

• Secure information boxes: Must be installed and maintained in their building over 18 metres. This box must contain their name and contact details along with hard copies of the building and floor plans.
• External wall systems: Must prepare a record of the design of the external walls of the building including the materials used in their construction. The record must provide information on the level of fire risk associated with the externals and any mitigating steps that have been taken. The RP is required to electronically share a copy of the record with the local fire and rescue service
• Building plans: Must prepare up-to-date floor plans, alongside a single page building plan which identifies key firefighting equipment. The RP is required to electronically share copies of the plans with the local fire and rescue service as well as provide paper copies of the plans within the premises’ secure information box.
• Lifts and other key fire-fighting equipment: Must undertake routine monthly checks of lifts intended for use by firefighters, evacuation lifts, and other key pieces of firefighting equipment. Any faults identified with equipment that cannot be rectified within 24 hours should be reported to the local fire and rescue service via electronic means.
• Wayfinding signage: Must install floor identification signs and flat indicator signs. The signage is intended to assist responding firefighters and should be visible in low light or smoky conditions.

More information on the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 can be found on the Government’s website, including further guidance published to support responsible persons with complying with requirements.