Fire safety for multi-occupied residential buildings

Who this guide is for

This guide is for responsible persons in multi-occupied residential buildings, including:

• Landlords
• Managing agents
• Resident management companies
• Freeholders
• Building owners

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Fire Safety Act 2021 and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 introduced significant new requirements.

Part 1: Understanding your legal position

The Fire Safety Act 2021

The Fire Safety Act 2021 clarified that the Fire Safety Order 2005 applies to:

• The building's structure
• External walls (including cladding, balconies, windows, anything attached)
• Flat entrance doors
• Common parts

This means your fire risk assessment must include these elements.

Part 2: Additional requirements for high-rise buildings

If your building is a 'high-rise residential building' (18 metres or 7+ storeys), you have additional duties under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.

Secure information box

High-rise residential buildings must have a secure information box containing floor plans and responsible person contact details.

Wayfinding signage

High-rise buildings must have wayfinding signage to help firefighters navigate.

Part 3: Fire door requirements

Fire doors are critical for compartmentation in residential buildings.

Part 4: Information for residents

You must provide fire safety information to residents, including:

• The building's evacuation strategy (stay put or simultaneous)
• Fire safety instructions
• The importance of fire doors
• For high-rise: information about external wall materials

Part 5: External wall assessments

Your fire risk assessment must now include external walls.

For high-rise buildings, you must also provide information to the fire and rescue authority about the construction and materials of external walls.

Part 6: Enforcement and penalties

Fire and rescue services can enforce these requirements with serious penalties for non-compliance.

Compliance checklist summary

All multi-occupied residential buildings

• Fire risk assessment covering structure, external walls, flat entrance doors
• Fire safety information provided to residents
• Quarterly checks of common area fire doors
• Annual checks of flat entrance doors

Additional for high-rise (18m+ or 7+ storeys)

• Secure information box with floor plans
• Wayfinding signage on all floors and stairwells
• External wall information to fire authority
• Monthly lifts and equipment checks
• Annual inspection by qualified fire door inspector

Further resources