Changes to Approved Document B – Fire Safety took effect in England on 30 September 2026, introducing new guidance on the provision of second staircases in residential buildings over 18 metres in height.
The revised guidance is intended to provide an additional means of escape and improve resilience where one staircase becomes unavailable during a fire or other emergency.
The change primarily affects the design and construction of new residential buildings and relevant building work, rather than imposing a general requirement to retrofit second staircases into existing buildings. Transitional provisions apply to projects already within the building-control process.
What should organisations do?
Developers, designers, contractors and organisations commissioning new residential developments should ensure that fire strategies and building designs reflect the updated Approved Document B requirements.
Projects commenced or approved before the change should also be checked carefully against the transitional arrangements to establish which version of the guidance applies.
Further information: GOV.UK – Approved Document B fire safety updates
