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Review of Approved Document B: Fire safety guidance

Review of Approved Document B: Fire safety guidance

 

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

 

You can find more details on this consultation here

 

Key Documents

 

 

To contribute to the CIBSE response please email [email protected] by the 29th May 2026 with any comments. This consultation closes on the 17th June.

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