30th April 2021
The Fire Safety Bill has now passed into Law. The new Fire Safety Act 2021 applies to England and Wales and amends the Fire Safety Order 2005 (“the 2005 Order”), and along with the draft Building Safety Bill is part of a collection of legislation that aims to tackle the recommendations within the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
The new legislation clarifies that for any building containing two or more sets of domestic premises
- The 2005 Order applies to the building’s structure and external walls and any common parts, and applies to the entrance doors to individual flats opening into common parts; and
- References to external walls in the 2005 Order include “doors or windows in those walls” and “anything attached to the exterior of those walls (including balconies).”
The aim of these amendments to the 2005 Order is to clarify that the Responsible Person must manage and reduce the risk of fire for these areas.
The fire risk assessment will therefore be required to cover these areas.
The clarification empowers the local fire and rescue authority to take enforcement action in respect of these areas.
Further information:
