The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 introduced new duties under the Fire Safety Order for building owners or managers (responsible persons). From 23^rd January 2023, it became a requirement for responsible persons of mid and high-rise blocks of flats to provide information to the local fire and rescue services to assist them with operational planning and, if needed, provide an effective operational response.

The Regulations forms part of a package of sensible, risk-mitigating fire safety measures that the UK Government is delivering following on from the Grenfell Tower fire to help keep the public safe.

In high-rise residential buildings, responsible persons will be required to:

• provide their local fire and rescue service with up-to-date electronic building plans and information on the design and materials of their external walls.
• undertake monthly checks of firefighting lifts, evacuation lifts and other key pieces of firefighting equipment.
• install a secure information box and wayfinding signage.
• In mid-rise residential buildings (over 11 metres), responsible persons will be required to undertake annual checks of flat entrance doors and quarterly checks of all fire doors in the common part.

The Regulations 2022 have been introduced as an important step towards implementing the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report.  The Regulations apply to England only and are being introduced under Article 24 of the Fire Safety Order. The Regulations can be found on the UK Government website.