Require external wall information for fire services
The owner and manager of every high-rise residential building be required by law to provide their local fire and rescue service with information about the design of its external walls together with details of the materials of which they are constructed and to inform the fire and rescue service of any material changes made to them.
- The Fire Safety Act 2021 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021, amending the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to clarify that external walls of multi-occupied residential buildings fall within scope (Fire Safety Act 2021, legislation.gov.uk).
- The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into force on 23 January 2023, requiring responsible persons of high-rise residential buildings to provide local fire and rescue services with information about external wall materials and design (SI 2022/547, legislation.gov.uk).
- The government's Phase 1 progress report stated this recommendation is complete (Quarterly Thematic Update, MHCLG, February 2025).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe government accepted in principle all Phase 1 recommendations directed at central government. The Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick presented the formal response to Parliament on 21 January 2020, committing to new duties on building owners and managers through the Fire Safety Bill and Building Safety Bill, including requirements for premises information boxes, floor plans, lift inspections, fire door checks, evacuation signage, and fire safety instructions to residents.
Progress Timeline
Completed. The Fire Safety Act 2021 commenced in full on 16 May 2022. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into force on 23 January 2023 requiring responsible persons to send external wall records electronically to their local fire and rescue service.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
LFB rated "outstanding" for responding to major and multi-agency incidents. Significant improvements since January 2022 inspection. Understanding of risk improved.