Summary
The Department of Finance carried out a public consultation from 3 July 2023 to 25 September 2023 on proposed amendments to Part E (Fire safety) of the Building Regulations and supporting guidance in Technical Booklet E. General comments on the Regulations were also invited, to inform a wider review.
The consultation received a total of 40 responses. The original consultation documents, the final Regulatory Impact Assessment and Department’s response can be accessed below.
Documents
- The Building (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2023 Consultation Proposals - July 2023
- Consultation version of Technical Booklet E. This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
- Draft consultation Regulatory Impact Assessment – Fire safety
- Draft Equality Screening - Fire safety
- Rural Needs Impact Assessment – Fire safety. This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology
- Q & A online briefing on consultation proposals for amendments to Fire safety standards in the Building Regulations
- Departmental Response to Public Consultation
- Post consultation track changes version Technical Booklet. This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
- Final Regulatory Impact Assessment. This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
- Final Rural Needs Impact Assessment. This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.
Consultation description
The consultation contained amendments to uplift fire safety protection measures in a range of buildings. They were mainly focused on residential buildings and in particular domestic multi-residential buildings, to provide assurance and additional safety measures to residents. Some amendments were aimed at assisting the Fire and Rescue Service to ensure they can provide an effective operational response. The intended effect of the proposals was to reduce the consequences of fire through saving lives and preventing injuries.
The changes proposed in the consultation gave the detail of the Department’s intention to amend Part E (Fire safety) of the Building Regulations and the accompanying guidance set out in Technical Booklet E (Fire safety) (TBE). The proposals included:
- A new functional regulation in Part E to require the person carrying out the work to provide adequate fire safety information to the person who has fire safety duties in any ‘relevant premises’ as defined under ‘The Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006’ (FRS(NI)O). The requirement would also apply to buildings containing flats with a storey more than 11m above ground level.
- A new prescriptive regulation in Part E to require the provision of suitable automatic fire suppression systems (e.g. sprinklers) in certain types of buildings. These buildings would include buildings containing flats and specific purpose-built student accommodation, both with a storey more than 11m above ground level. All residential care premises, including residential care homes, nursing homes, children’s homes and family resident centres, irrespective of storey height would also be included.
- A number of changes to Technical Booklet E (TBE) (Fire safety) to -
- give guidance to the new requirement for provision of fire safety information;
- give guidance on sprinklers to the new requirement to install suitable automatic fire suppression systems;
- amend the guidance for means of escape to increase the smoke alarm coverage to all habitable rooms in all new dwellings. Also clarified guidance on coverage of alarm expected after an extension and/or alteration work to an existing dwelling;
- amend the guidance for means of escape to clarify the measures needed to ensure adequate smoke ventilation from the common escape routes of buildings containing flats;
- amend the guidance for ‘Facilities and Access for the Fire and Rescue Service’ to assist firefighters in their operations of search and rescue and firefighting. These amendments include enhanced firefighting shaft, vehicle access and fire mains provisions. Also new requirements for emergency evacuation alert systems, wayfinding signage and secure information box provisions in buildings containing flats with a storey over a certain height.
An online information event took place on Tuesday 18 July, during which the Department set out the proposals.
An anonymised Q&A summary from the event and a voiced over video of the presentation slides are available:-
- Q&A Summary
- Video briefing on consultation proposals - updates to Fire safety standards in the Building Regs, July '23.
Ways to respond
Consultation closed — responses are no longer being accepted.