Industry Articles
Retail Crime And Premises Security: Why Security Arrangements Need A Practical Review
Retail crime and premises-related security incidents remain a live concern for UK businesses. Recent industry reporting has shown that while there are early signs of progress in some areas, violence, abuse, theft, organised offending and delivery crime continue to affect retailers and commercial premises across the country. For many organisations, the issue is not limited…
Read MoreThe Insurance Implications Of Non-Compliant Fire And Security Systems
Fire and security systems are often viewed as compliance requirements. A fire alarm system is installed to provide suitable detection and warning. Emergency lighting supports safe escape. Fire extinguishers provide first-aid firefighting provision. Fire doors protect escape routes and compartmentation. CCTV, access control and intruder alarms support security and asset protection. However, these systems also…
Read MoreBuilding Safety Act In Practice: Evidence, Records And Responsibility
Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 came into force in October 2023, amending the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and strengthening the duties placed on responsible persons. At the time, the change was widely discussed. Many building owners, landlords, facilities managers, managing agents and employers recognised that fire safety duties had become…
Read MoreWhat the Rise in Fire Safety Enforcement Action Means for Responsible Persons
Why stronger enforcement, higher penalties and closer scrutiny are changing how fire safety duties must be managed Fire and rescue services across England are making greater use of their enforcement powers under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The trend is visible in the National Enforcement Register, in the frequency of prohibition notices, and…
Read MoreEV Charging Infrastructure and Fire Risk: A Compliance Gap Most Buildings Have Not Addressed
What the gap between EV charging regulations and fire safety guidance means for building owners and managers Since June 2022, Part S of the Building Regulations has required EV charging infrastructure in all new residential and commercial buildings. New non-residential buildings with more than ten parking spaces must have at least one charge point, with…
Read MoreLithium-Ion Battery Fires in Commercial Buildings: What Responsible Persons Need to Know
How emerging battery risks are changing fire safety responsibilities, risk assessments and day-to-day building management UK fire services are now attending a lithium-ion battery fire every five hours. That figure, drawn from a Freedom of Information request published by QBE in May 2026 covering 42 of the UK’s 49 fire services, represents a scale of…
Read MoreApproved Document B Is Under Review: What the 2026 Consultation Means for Your Fire Strategy
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…
Read MoreCCTV and Data Protection: The Compliance Overlap That Is Catching Businesses Out
CCTV Captures Personal Data: Why Data Protection Law Applies CCTV systems capture video footage that includes images of identifiable individuals. Under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, such images constitute personal data. Any organisation operating a CCTV system is therefore acting as a data controller and must comply with the full scope of…
Read MoreFire Door Inspections: The Quarterly Requirement Most Buildings Still Are Not Meeting
The Regulatory Requirement: Quarterly Inspections Are Mandatory Under Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, responsible persons must ensure that all fire safety measures, including fire doors, are properly maintained and kept in working order. This is a legal obligation that applies across all relevant buildings. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022…
Read MoreLandlords and HMO managers: new fire evacuation duties from 6 April 2026
If you own or manage rented residential buildings – including HMOs, blocks of flats or purpose-built rental properties – new legal duties around fire evacuation are coming into force on 6 April 2026. The Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 require the person responsible for the building – typically the owner, landlord or…
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