The Consultation Begins: What You Need to Know

On 25 March 2026, the UK Government launched a 14-week public consultation on Approved Document B (fire safety), with submissions closing on 1 July 2026. Approved Document B provides the statutory guidance used by building professionals to demonstrate compliance with the fire safety requirements of the Building Regulations 2010.

This consultation represents the first substantive review since the publication of Volume 2 in 2019 and is one of the most significant updates to fire safety guidance in recent years.

The review follows recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report (September 2024), which identified systemic weaknesses in building design, regulation, and accountability. Approved Document B has been specifically targeted for revision to address gaps in guidance, particularly in relation to evacuation strategies, design responsibility, and the clarity of compliance pathways.

Key Areas Under Review

The consultation focuses on six core areas of fire safety design, covering how buildings are designed, how fire develops and spreads, and how occupants are protected and evacuated.

Particular attention is being given to means of warning and escape, especially in light of the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) Regulations 2025, which now require responsible persons to maintain and regularly test evacuation plans. Internal and external fire spread are also under detailed review, with increased scrutiny on material performance, façade design, and the interaction between building elements during a fire event.

Compartmentation remains a central focus, reflecting its role as a primary control measure in limiting fire and smoke movement. Alongside this, access and facilities for the fire service are being reviewed to ensure operational effectiveness is not compromised by design decisions. Evacuation strategies for residential buildings are also being examined in greater depth, particularly where previous guidance has been open to interpretation.

Taken together, these areas indicate a clear direction of travel: more prescriptive guidance, tighter interpretation of compliance, and increased accountability for both design and ongoing building management.

What This Means for Responsible Persons and Building Managers

For those responsible for existing buildings, the implications of this consultation are practical rather than theoretical.

Although the current version of Approved Document B will remain enforceable for a transitional period, in practice, regulators, insurers, and fire safety professionals are likely to begin referencing the revised guidance shortly after publication. This typically results in expectations shifting ahead of formal enforcement.

In practical terms, this is likely to require a review of existing fire risk assessments, particularly where they rely on earlier interpretations of Approved Document B. Fire alarm systems may need to support revised evacuation approaches, and passive fire protection measures, including compartmentation and fire doors, are likely to be subject to closer scrutiny during inspection and audit processes.

For new developments and major refurbishments, the impact will be more immediate. Projects completing from 2027 onwards are likely to fall fully within the revised framework, with stricter expectations around fire separation, detection, and evacuation design. Delaying consideration of these changes until final publication is likely to result in programme and cost pressures.

How to Engage with the Consultation

The consultation is open to all stakeholders, including building owners, responsible persons, fire safety professionals, contractors, and residents. The Government is seeking evidence-based feedback on the practical impact of proposed changes, including implications for design, cost, and implementation.

New Path Fire and Security encourages responsible persons and building managers to engage with the consultation where possible. The consultation period closes on 1 July 2026 and represents a limited opportunity to contribute to the development of guidance that will shape fire safety practice over the coming years. Input based on operational experience is particularly valuable.

How New Path Group Companies Can Support Your Fire Strategy

At New Path Fire and Security, regulatory change is treated as an ongoing component of building risk management rather than a retrospective compliance exercise.

Through our group companies, we support clients across fire risk assessment, fire alarm systems, passive fire protection, and fire door compliance. Our approach is based on anticipating regulatory direction and translating it into practical actions for buildings and portfolios.

This includes reviewing fire risk assessments against emerging expectations, advising on system design that can accommodate likely changes to evacuation strategies, and assessing passive fire protection measures in the context of both current standards and anticipated revisions.

The focus is on ensuring that buildings remain compliant over time, rather than achieving compliance at a single point.

Timeline and Next Steps

The consultation closes on 1 July 2026, with the revised Approved Document B expected to be published in 2027. This creates a defined preparation window for building owners, developers, and responsible persons.

At a minimum, this should involve reviewing current fire safety strategies, identifying areas likely to be affected by regulatory change, and engaging with fire safety specialists to understand potential implications. Organisations that act during this period are likely to be better positioned than those responding after publication.

New Path Fire and Security is monitoring the consultation and will provide further technical guidance as the revised document is finalised.

Next Steps

If you would like to understand how the Approved Document B consultation may affect your building or portfolio, our team is available to advise.

Get in touch today:

02380 269 833 | [email protected]