In this Briefing Note we have set out the main changes introduced by the new Fire Safety Act 2021 which received royal assent on the 29th April 2021 and is now an Act of Parliament. The Act amends the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO), to ensure that people feel safe in their homes, and a tragedy like the Grenfell Tower fire never happens again.

As lockdown restrictions ease in the UK over the coming weeks, many people will begin to return to the workplace, where buildings may have stood unoccupied or with significantly reduced occupancy for a number of months. Therefore, it is essential that the water quality of hot and cold water systems in these buildings is considered, as the water systems may have become stagnant during the lockdown period if not correctly maintained. Stagnation can result in the growth and colonisation of potentially harmful bacteria including Legionella.

With most businesses and workplaces in commercial buildings having either been completely closed at some point or operating at a reduced capacity to try and limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus, it is important that buildings continue to be insured and safely maintained in order to manage risks and to meet all relevant legal duties placed on property owners.