A fire risk assessment is one of the foundations of fire safety management. Its findings can influence decisions about fire alarms, emergency lighting, escape routes, fire doors, compartmentation, extinguishers, evacuation arrangements and staff procedures. Yet the quality of that assessment depends heavily on the person carrying it out. During 2026,…

Fire evacuation planning has changed for certain residential buildings in England. On 6 April 2026, the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 came into force, introducing new legal duties intended to improve arrangements for residents who may have difficulty evacuating independently during a fire. For building owners, landlords…

Fire alarm systems are designed to provide early warning when it matters most, but the standards governing how those systems are designed, installed and maintained do not remain unchanged. BS 5839-1:2025 is now the current British Standard covering fire detection and fire alarm systems for non-domestic premises. Published in April…

Buildings rarely stay exactly as they were when their fire protection systems were first designed. Internal layouts change, rooms are repurposed, new equipment is introduced and refurbishment work takes place. Over time, even relatively minor alterations can affect how people move through a building and how its fire protection measures…

A fire alarm is there to provide an early warning when something is wrong. When that same alarm begins activating unnecessarily, however, it can create a very different problem. False alarms disrupt businesses, interrupt operations and can lead to unnecessary evacuations. More importantly, repeated activations can affect the way people…

The UK’s analogue telephone network is approaching the end of its life, and for businesses, the impact could extend far beyond their telephone systems. By 31 January 2027, the Public Switched Telephone Network, commonly known as the PSTN, is due to be withdrawn as the UK completes its move towards…

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,…

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…

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…

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…