The Fire Safety Act 2021 (the Act) received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021 and commenced on 16 May 2022. The Act amends the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the Fire Safety Order). The Act had previously been brought into force in Wales.

Tyne and Wear welcomes the commencement of the Fire Safety Act in England and Wales, and the Regulations in England. These are important steps forward in strengthening the Fire Safety Order and improving fire safety within our communities.

The Act clarifies that, in addition to general responsibilities under The Fire Safety Order, responsible persons (RPs) for buildings containing two or more domestic premises must manage and reduce the risk of fire for the structure and external walls of the building, including cladding, balconies and windows, and entrance doors to individual flats that open onto common parts.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service will work with our business community to help them understand what the changes mean to them and to help them to fulfil their obligation to comply. Over the coming weeks and months, we will be organising a series of events where we will share our approach to the new legislation.

Fire Safety Act 2021:

Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (“The Regulations”), which have been introduced as an important step towards implementing the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report. The Regulations are being introduced under Article 24 of the Fire Safety Order and will come into force on 23 January 2023. The Regulations apply to England only.

Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022

You can now submit your building safety information here.

More Information

You can find out more in our FAQs document here or by visiting the NFCC website.

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations can be found on the UK Government website.

The Home Office has produced a series of fact sheets which provide more detailed information on what the Regulations mean in England:

• Overview Fact Sheet
• Secure Information Box Fact Sheet
• Design and Materials of External Walls Fact Sheet
• Floor Plans and Building Plan Fact Sheet
• Lifts and Essential Fire-fighting Equipment Fact Sheet
• Wayfinding Signage Face Sheet
• Information to Residents Fact Sheet
• Fire Doors Fact Sheet

Information on how the Act applies within Wales can be found on the Welsh Government website.