Open consultation

Review of Approved Document B: Fire safety guidance

From:
Building Safety Regulator and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Published
25 March 2026

Applies to England

Summary

Proposed changes to statutory fire safety guidance in Approved Document B, updating external wall guidance and recommending new provision of evacuation lifts.

This consultation is being held on another website.

This consultation closes at

Consultation description

Proposals to amend Approved Document B to: 

  • implement important clarifications and technical changes to the guidance
  • consolidate guidance for designing building work on existing buildings
  • introduce a threshold on the use of combustible elements of structure, over which Approved Document B guidance should not be applied
  • revise and update guidance on external wall systems and balconies and review the scope of the ban on combustible materials in, and on, external walls and specified attachments
  • recommend providing evacuation lifts in residential buildings above 18m and clarify the guidance for non-residential buildings
  • update terminology on ‘sheltered housing’, introducing the new term ‘specialised housing’ in its place and including provisions for extended alarm coverage in these premises
  • introduce updated guidance on roofs, including new provisions for incorporating solar photovoltaic (PV) panels
  • increase the structural fire resistance rating of open-sided car parks

Updates to this page

Published 25 March 2026

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