What Are My Requirements Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022?
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 add detailed duties for responsible persons in England, especially for multi-occupied residential buildings. This guide summarises the main requirements and how they work alongside the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Duties depend on your building type, height, use and who the responsible person is. Always check the current legislation and official government guidance, or take professional advice for your situation.
In short: The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into force on 23 January 2023 and add prescriptive duties on top of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, mainly for multi-occupied residential buildings. The core duties are quarterly checks of communal fire doors in high-rise residential buildings, best-endeavour annual checks of flat entrance doors, fire safety information for residents, wayfinding signage in buildings with a floor above 11 metres, and building and floor plans plus a secure information box for the fire and rescue service. Which duties apply depends on the building's height, use and number of domestic premises.
What Are the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022?
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 ("the 2022 Regulations") are made under Article 24 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO). They came into force in England on 23 January 2023 and set out specific duties that apply in addition to the general requirements of the FSO.
Many of the 2022 Regulations focus on multi-occupied residential buildings — where there are two or more sets of domestic premises (for example, blocks of flats or buildings containing flats with common parts). Some duties also depend on building height (for example, whether a floor is more than 11 metres above ground level, or whether the building is a "high-rise residential building" — broadly, at least 18 metres high with two or more sets of domestic premises).
Who Has to Comply?
The duties fall primarily on the responsible person under the FSO (and, where the Building Safety Act 2022 applies, the accountable person for higher-risk buildings must cooperate). The responsible person is usually the employer, the person in control of the premises, or the owner — depending on the building.
If you manage, own or control the common parts of a residential building with multiple flats, you should assume these regulations are relevant until you have confirmed otherwise.
Key Requirements (Overview)
The following is a high-level summary of some of the main themes. Not every duty applies to every building.
Information for residents
Providing fire safety instructions to residents and information on the importance of fire doors (including keeping self-closing devices in working order), where the regulations require it.
Fire door checks
For high-rise residential buildings: quarterly checks of fire doors (including self-closing devices) in common parts. For multi-occupied residential buildings more widely: using best endeavours to carry out annual checks on flat entrance doors (including self-closing devices) — subject to rights of access.
Wayfinding and signage
For buildings with a floor more than 11 metres above ground level (with two or more sets of domestic premises): wayfinding signage including flat and floor identification visible in low light or smoky conditions, to assist fire and rescue services.
Floor plans and building layout
For relevant taller residential buildings: preparation and placement of a building plan and floor plans, and keeping them updated — including in the secure information box where required.
Secure information box
For relevant buildings: installation and maintenance of a secure information box in an agreed location, containing specified information for the fire and rescue service.
External wall and fire door information
For relevant buildings: recording and providing information on external wall construction and fire doors, including for handover to subsequent responsible persons.
Lifts and other firefighting facilities
For relevant high-rise residential buildings: monthly checks of lifts for use by firefighters or evacuation lifts (where installed), and reporting defects; checks on other key firefighting equipment such as dry risers where applicable.
Communal fire doors — evidence
Keeping records of quarterly checks of communal fire doors in high-rise residential buildings as required.
How This Fits With Other Law
The 2022 Regulations do not replace the FSO. You must still carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, implement findings, maintain general fire precautions, and cooperate and coordinate with other dutyholders where required. The Fire Safety Act 2021 clarified that the FSO applies to structure, external walls and flat entrance doors in multi-occupied residential buildings; the 2022 Regulations add prescriptive duties on top for England.
Higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act 2022 have additional regimes (including the Building Safety Regulator). Your obligations may overlap; specialist advice is often needed.
Practical Next Steps
- Confirm whether your building is in scope for each part of the 2022 Regulations (height, number of domestic premises, use).
- Review your fire risk assessment to ensure it reflects flat entrance doors, common parts, external walls and any new duties.
- Put in place a fire door inspection programme that matches the quarterly / annual requirements where they apply, with records where required.
- Ensure signage, plans and the secure information box (if required) are correct and maintained.
- Use competent contractors for inspections and remedial work — see our article on accreditation.
Need Help Staying Compliant?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022?
They are regulations made under Article 24 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which came into force in England on 23 January 2023. They set out specific, prescriptive duties that apply in addition to the general requirements of the Fire Safety Order, with most of them focused on multi-occupied residential buildings.
When did the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 come into force?
23 January 2023 in England. They implement recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report.
Who has to comply with the 2022 Regulations?
The duties fall primarily on the responsible person under the Fire Safety Order — usually the employer, the person in control of the premises, or the owner. Where the Building Safety Act 2022 applies, the accountable person for a higher-risk building must also cooperate. If you own, manage or control the common parts of a residential building containing multiple flats, assume the regulations are relevant until you have confirmed otherwise.
How often must fire doors be checked under the 2022 Regulations?
In high-rise residential buildings, fire doors in the common parts — including their self-closing devices — must be checked quarterly. More widely in multi-occupied residential buildings, the responsible person must use best endeavours to carry out annual checks of flat entrance doors and their self-closing devices, subject to rights of access.
What height thresholds apply?
Different duties attach to different heights. Wayfinding signage applies to buildings with a floor more than 11 metres above ground level containing two or more sets of domestic premises. High-rise residential building duties, such as quarterly communal fire door checks and monthly lift checks, apply broadly to buildings at least 18 metres high with two or more sets of domestic premises.
What is a secure information box?
A box installed and maintained in an agreed location in relevant buildings, containing specified information for the fire and rescue service — typically including the building plan and floor plans, which must be kept up to date.
Do the 2022 Regulations replace the Fire Safety Order?
No. They sit on top of it. You must still carry out a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, implement its findings, maintain general fire precautions, and cooperate with other dutyholders. The Fire Safety Act 2021 clarified that the Order covers structure, external walls and flat entrance doors in multi-occupied residential buildings; the 2022 Regulations then add prescriptive duties on top for England.
What should I do first to comply?
Confirm whether your building is in scope for each part of the regulations, based on height, number of domestic premises and use. Then review your fire risk assessment so it reflects flat entrance doors, common parts and external walls, put a fire door inspection programme in place matching the quarterly and annual requirements with records where required, and check that signage, plans and the secure information box are correct and maintained.
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