Fire safety in small premises

In 2023 the Home Office published 3 new guides to help responsible persons and building owners comply with their fire safety duties in small non-domestic premises, guest accommodation and blocks of flats.

Following changes to legal requirements introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022, the Home Office has now issued updated versions of those guides. All three guides explain the requirements placed on persons responsible for premises, provide guidance on fire risk assessment, identify fire hazards and typical safety measures, and include a fire risk assessment checklist.

The first guide provides fire safety guidance for small blocks of flats. This covers the common parts of blocks of flats, including, where relevant, the building’s structure, external walls and doors between domestic premises and common parts. There is also guidance on fire safety within individual flats.

The second guide is for small non-domestic premises with basic fire hazards and a limited number of employees, customers, and visitors. More specific details of relevant premises are contained in the guide, e.g., that this is intended for premises consisting of not more than a basement, ground and first floor with a maximum floor area of 280 m², with no more than 50 litres of highly flammable liquids stored on the premises, etc.

The final guide considers small guest accommodation, including sleeping accommodation. This guidance is for paying guest accommodation, including small-scale, short-term sleeping accommodations such as bed and breakfasts and guest houses. This includes some example layouts and recommendations for fire protection measures, including updated guidance in relation to the use and provision of fire extinguishers.

If you have any questions or would like support with managing issues at your workplace, please speak to your usual contact or get in touch using the form below.