Fire safety guidance and insights
Practical guidance for Responsible Persons, landlords, building managers and developers, written by Managing Director Paul Chamberlain. Each article explains what the law requires and what good practice looks like, and sets out where the rules differ between England and Wales.
Fire strategy for a change of use: what you need and when
When a change of use needs a fire strategy, what it covers for offices to flats and houses to HMOs, and how the rules differ between England and Wales.
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Gateway 2 fire strategies: what the regulator expects
What a Gateway 2 fire strategy for a higher-risk building in England must show, why applications are sent back, and how to get yours right the first time.
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Fire safety in care homes: what CIW and CQC expect
Fire safety in care homes in Wales and England: evacuation, PEEPs, night staffing, drills, doors and detection, and what CIW and CQC inspectors ask to see.
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Emergency lighting testing: monthly and annual checks explained
How to test emergency lighting under BS 5266-1: the monthly flick test, the annual full-duration test, what to record and what to do when a light fails a test.
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Fire alarm testing and servicing: what the law requires
How often fire alarms must be tested and serviced under BS 5839-1: weekly user tests, six-monthly service, logbooks and who is responsible for them.
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Do I need a fire risk assessment for my HMO in Wales?
Do HMOs in Wales need a fire risk assessment? The Fire Safety Order, HMO licensing, Rent Smart Wales, LACORS and BS 9792 explained, and how England differs.
Read articleHow often should a fire risk assessment be reviewed?
How often to review a fire risk assessment in England and Wales: the legal triggers, typical intervals by premises type, and when you need a full reassessment.
Read articleLandlord fire safety in Wales under the Renting Homes Act
Landlord fire safety in Wales under the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016: smoke and CO alarms, electrical testing, Rent Smart Wales, HMOs and England's rules.
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What does a school fire risk assessment cover?
What a school fire risk assessment covers: who the Responsible Person is, escape routes, labs and kitchens, arson, SEN pupils, drills and how often to review.
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Sprinklers in new homes in Wales: what the 2011 Measure means
What the Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Measure 2011 means for new and converted homes: which buildings need sprinklers, BS 9251, water supply and maintenance.
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What is fire stopping and why does it fail?
What fire stopping is, why compartmentation matters and common defects: unsealed penetrations, wrong products, foam misuse and missing cavity barriers.
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Who is the Responsible Person for fire safety in a block of flats?
Who is the Responsible Person for fire safety in a block of flats: freeholders, RTM companies, managing agents and leaseholders, in England and Wales explained.
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Fire door checks for landlords: what the law requires
How often landlords must check fire doors in England and Wales, what to look for on every door, the records to keep and what to do when a door fails a check.
Read articleFire strategy or escape strategy? Understanding the difference
How a fire strategy differs from an evacuation strategy, how both link to the fire risk assessment, and what to do when they change, in England and Wales.
Read articleWhat is a PAS 79 fire risk assessment?
What a PAS 79 fire risk assessment is, why PAS 79-2 was replaced by BS 9792:2025, what a good report contains and how often to review it in England and Wales.
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