May 14, 2024
Approved Document B 2024 amendments
From our colleagues at Barbour EHS.
The Government has updated its guidance calling for second staircases in all new tall residential buildings over 18 metres. The amendments come into force on 30 September 2026 and apply to buildings and building work in England.
This document sets out amendments to guidance previously published in Approved Document B: Fire safety, Volume 1 – Dwellings and Volume 2 – Buildings other than dwellings, 2019 edition incorporating the 2020 and 2022 amendments.
The 2019 edition incorporating the 2020 and 2022 amendments will continue to apply where a building notice or an initial notice has been given to, or a building control approval application with full plans made to, the relevant authority before 30 September 2026 and either the building work to which it relates:
- Has started and is sufficiently progressed before that day.
- Is started and is sufficiently progressed within the period of 18 months beginning on that day.
It is noted that ‘building notice’, ‘initial notice’ and ‘building control approval application with full plans’ have the meanings given in the Building Regulations 2010. For the purpose of these transitional arrangements, building work is to be regarded as ‘sufficiently progressed’:
- Where the building work consists of the construction of a building, when the pouring of concrete for the permanent placement of the trench, pad or raft foundations has started, or the permanent placement of piling has started.
- Where the building work consists of work to an existing building, when that work has started.
- Where the building work consists of a material change of use of a building, when work to effect that change of use has stated.
The changes focus on the following fire safety provisions:
- A new recommendation for more than one common stair to be provided in blocks of flats with a storey 18m or more in height.
- Building design provisions to support the use of evacuation lifts in blocks of flats.
The document summarises the list of amendments, as published in March 2024.
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
March 2024
