Second Staircases In New Tall Residential Buildings

We have previously reported about the government’s plans to introduce a requirement for second staircases in all new residential buildings in England over 18 metres tall.

An amendment to Approved Document B Fire Safety, Volume 1 (Dwellings) and Volume 2 (Buildings Other Than Dwellings), has now been published, which sets out the details of the new requirements. In addition to requirements for additional staircases, the amendment also makes provisions to support the use of evacuation lifts in blocks of flats.

The amendments will take effect on September 30, 2026. You can find full details of the new requirements on the Gov.UK website.

A press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities can be found here.

Approved documents give practical guidance on how to meet the requirements of the Building Regulations 2010 in England. Separate requirements apply in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

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