Regulator introduces social media channels to share building safety guidance and news

by Building ManagementCommunicationsConstructionFeatured NewsSafety

Regulator launches digital channels for communication

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has launched dedicated social media channels to provide updates on building safety guidance, news and events.

BSR stated that the new channels follow its transition to a standalone organisation earlier this year and are intended to create a direct line of communication with industry and residents.

The channels will share building safety guidance, resources and information on online webinars and events.

They will complement the organisation’s GOV.UK page and its existing campaign website.

BSR stated: “The new channels will allow us to provide a direct, focused line of communication to everyone interested in building safety and the work of BSR.”

Access to information, updates and training

Following the new BSR channels will provide access to information for high-rise residents across England and updates on building safety reforms and legislation.

Users will be able to view links to transparency data and official guidance, alongside campaign updates and technical information for the construction sector.

The channels will also include details of free training, toolkits and webinars, along with opportunities to take part in BSR research projects.

BSR produces three regular ebulletins for industry, responsible persons and high-rise residents, providing updates on guidance, recent developments and opportunities to contribute feedback.

More than 21,000 subscribers currently receive these updates, with sign-up available for further users.

BSR stated that it will continue to expand its digital presence and update its website as additional platforms are introduced.

New £70m building safety package backs inspectors and fire engineers

by Breaking NewsConstructionSafety

Building safety funding announced for key professions

New £70 million funding has been announced to address shortages in building safety professions and support the delivery of 1.5 million homes.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said on 26 March 2026 that the three-year programme will increase the number of Registered Building Inspectors by up to 700 and expand fire engineering education.

The funding is split between Building Control, which will receive £55 million, and Fire Engineering, which will receive £15 million.

It is intended to increase the number of Registered Building Inspectors, including those in Class 3H who can inspect High-Risk Buildings.

The programme will also increase the number of Fire Engineers and the availability of Fire Engineering education.

How the funding will be used

Funding for Building Control will support local authorities’ building control teams in England to recruit new Registered Building Inspectors and train them to the required Class 2 standard.

It will also fund the upskilling of existing Registered Building Inspectors, with many training to the standard needed to inspect High-Risk Buildings in Class 3H.

Additional funding will support the training of new entrants in Registered Building Control Approvers and local authorities.

For Fire Engineering, the funding will develop higher education provision through postgraduate bursaries, along with research and academic development.

The mechanisms for applying for the funds are currently under development and more information will be published in the coming months.

Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy Samantha Dixon said: “We’re boosting the building safety workforce to get more skilled building inspectors and fire engineers into the system quickly to keep people safe and unlock the new homes this country needs.

“This is a vital step in building 1.5 million safe homes and ensuring we continue to deliver on lessons from the Grenfell Tower tragedy.”

The government said the programme responds to recommendations from the House of Lords regulatory committee, along with concerns raised by the Fire Engineers Advisory Panel, responses to the Building Control Independent Panel’s call for evidence and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

Fire Aware calls for collaboration across fire safety supply chain

by ConstructionFeatured NewsSafety

Collaboration, charters and a wider duty of care

Fire Aware has said closer working across the fire safety supply chain can help deliver safer outcomes for people in buildings across multiple sectors.

The organisation said Collaboration on legislation, product supply and innovation can help address current pressures facing the sectors it serves.

Fire Aware’s work centres on the moral responsibility of those involved in the fire safety supply chain, including designers, developers, asset owners, managers and other stakeholders.

This, it said, applies beyond specialist fire safety roles and extends across the wider supply chain.

Sectors identified as vulnerable to fire risk include hospitality and healthcare, where building operators are responsible for protecting customers, elderly people and others who may be unable to protect themselves in a real fire.

Collaboration and cultural change

Fire Aware said it aims to influence behaviour in the built environment sector through a moral code of conduct set out in a series of charters.

The organisation described those charters as a way to shape how member companies uphold their duty of care.

Fire Aware CEO Gavin Skelly said: “Our members tell us that when they work closely together the solutions are easier to find and everyone benefits.

“We are all in this together.

“At Fire Aware, we have a community of companies large and small who often collaborate together to find the solution to a problem.”

Skelly added: “We all believe in fulfilling our duty of care and working closely with partners who are like-minded will help everyone to achieve that.

“This is a vocation for life, not a job.”

He added: “The Fire Aware community – and the wider fire safety industry – are all of the same mind.

“We cannot compromise when it comes to safeguarding the safety of people moving about in our buildings.

“That cuts cross all sectors and applies to a multitude of responsible people who may or may not be directly involved in fire safety but want to uphold their duty of care.

“It’s not just about the specialists.

“It’s about the entire supply chain.”

The statement also noted calls for cultural change through moral and ethical behaviours, alongside the role of the independent Building Safety Regulator in promoting competence and higher standards.

Swift Fire Compliance releases damper guide on remedial works

by Building ManagementFeatured NewsPassiveSafety

Damper remedial guidance for building compliance

Swift Fire Compliance has published a free guide explaining fire damper testing, maintenance and remedial works for existing buildings.

The company says the guide responds to updated standards introduced under the Building Safety Act 2022 and focuses on legal obligations linked to fire and smoke control dampers.

Industry data referenced in the source material indicates that 70% of fire dampers fail initial inspections across the UK.

Fire dampers form part of fire compartmentation systems and close automatically to slow the spread of fire and smoke through ventilation ductwork while maintaining escape routes.

Regular inspection and testing are required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO) at least every 12 months.

More frequent inspection may be required in higher risk environments.

Guide focuses on remedial work and inspection records

Swift Fire Compliance explains that the publication Beyond the Function Test: Fire & Smoke Damper Remedials Made Clear concentrates on remedial works and compliance recovery in existing buildings.

The guide follows the company’s Ultimate Guide to Fire & Smoke Dampers 2025 and concentrates on practical steps that duty holders can take when defects or compliance gaps are identified.

Content includes legal compliance requirements under the RRFSO alongside guidance related to BS 9999 and DW145.

The guide also explains how to identify common fire damper defects, how remedial actions may be addressed and how remedial compliance reports can be interpreted.

Guidance is also provided on maintaining records so duty holders remain prepared for regulatory audits.

Challenges around installation and maintenance records

Gary Nicholls, Managing Director of Swift Fire Compliance, said: “The industry is continually adapting to changes in legislation; the biggest challenge lies in a lack of initial installation and maintenance records, which are now required by law.

“Fire and smoke control dampers might be hidden from view, but in the event of a fire, they are the difference between safety and catastrophe.

“As statutory guidance continued to evolve, responsible parties must ensure effective inspection, testing and remediation to ensure buildings are truly safe and compliant.”

The guide is available for download from Swift Fire Compliance.

Promat secures EN testing for Vermiculux -S structural steel system

by ConstructionFeatured NewsPassive

Promat EN testing for Vermiculux -S

Promat has secured EN testing for its Vermiculux -S board system, bringing its specialist structural steel systems in line with the incoming test standard ahead of adoption.

According to a company announcement, Vermiculux -S has been successfully third-party tested against EN standard (13381-4) after previously being tested to a BS standard.

The A1 non-combustible board provides up to 240 minutes of fire protection to structural steel.

It is commonly used in higher risk developments such as buildings above 18 metres and multi-occupancy housing.

Warehouses and data centres are also identified as typical applications where extended fire resistance is required to maintain structural stability during a fire.

System classification and installation characteristics

Promat said the Vermiculux -S system has also received third-party classification to provide a clear summary of the fire test evidence for use by specifiers and inclusion in the golden thread.

The system is designed for beam encasements and is available in several thickness options.

Installation can take place before the building is weathertight.

The lightweight board construction supports flexibility in contemporary building design.

Margherita Mullis, Product Manager at Promat, said: “By ensuring Vermiculux -S is tested and classified to EN standards at the earliest opportunity we have been able to ensure a forward-looking approach to fire safety design where architects and specifiers can have confidence our products align with the European standards the UK industry is moving towards.

“With a focus on system-based testing, Promat has invested in extensive testing, including securing classification to provide architects and principal designers with clear, evidence-based performance data to ensure regulatory compliance and the highest performance standards.

“Vermiculux -S is Promat’s top-tier solution for structural steel protection and is a vital part of our structural steel portfolio thanks to its high level of fire performance.

“With a continued focus on meeting the highest standards of testing, we are proud to have a complete structural steel protection range fully tested to EN standards to support greater confidence in fire safety design and ensure the demand for tested products and systems is met.”

The European testing standard referenced by the company is due to be adopted in 2029.

UK Construction Products Reform White Paper proposes licensing for testing bodies

by ConstructionFeatured NewsIndustry Comment

Construction Products Reform White Paper is product-focused, Harmony Fire says

A UK government white paper has set out proposed reforms to the construction products regulatory regime, including changes to product coverage, testing and enforcement.

The proposals are described in the Construction Products Reform White Paper and are framed as part of the response to the Grenfell Tower tragedy and subsequent reviews.

Construction products reform white paper coverage and testing proposals

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government’s Construction Products Reform White Paper proposes bringing all construction products into regulatory requirements through designated standards or a general safety requirement (GSR).

The document sets out a licensing regime in which UK Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) would be licensed by the national regulator for construction products.

The white paper also links these proposals to oversight of the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) by the national regulator.

Construction products reform white paper enforcement and regulator plans

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government states that breaches of the construction products regime would be punishable by an unlimited fine or imprisonment.

The white paper also describes consultation on civil monetary penalties as an alternative to prosecution.

It says additional sanctions following prosecution could include director disqualification and recovering proceeds of crime.

It also sets out an intention to create a single construction regulator, with the proposal that it would take on the national regulator for construction products role and the responsibilities of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).

Harmony Fire commentary on deliverability and supply chain impacts

Graham Oliphant, Managing Director of Harmony Fire’s consultancy business, wrote: “The Construction Products Reform white paper will be closely analysed in the coming days and weeks, but here are some initial observations on its direction and deliverability.

“One of the most significant reforms concerns Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs), which will now be licensed by the national regulator to bring greater consistency and rigour to testing and certification.

“Failures in testing and commercial conflicts of interest were explicitly referenced in the Grenfell Inquiry.”

Oliphant wrote: “The single construction regulator will be central to implementation, and alignment with EU-CPR 2024 on sustainability should reduce trade friction and regulatory duplication while supporting international supply chains.

“There is no detail on increased enforcement capacity, investment in testing laboratories or long-term funding.

“With around 28,000 manufacturers and the vast majority of these in the SME category, resourcing remains a critical question.”

Oliphant added: “The term ‘system’ appears 142 times in the White Paper and there is acknowledgment of the cladding system level risk that created the perfect storm at Grenfell Tower.

“Yet the reforms remain product-focused, this is significant missed opportunity or worse.

“There is no certification for assembled systems, no integrated liability across designers, specifiers and installers, and no dynamic risk assessment for substitution during construction.

“The fragmentation highlighted in the Inquiry remains largely unaddressed.”

Oliphant wrote: “Finally, the administrative and cost burden will fall heavily on small and micro businesses, which make up around 94% of the manufacturing base.

“GSR assessments, digitisation and expanded liability will increase costs, risk market consolidation and reduce choice and innovation, potentially increasing reliance on imports if the domestic base contracts.”

New compliance resource targets client responsibilities in building safety regime

by Associations and OrganisationsConstructionFeatured NewsSafety

Compliance guide sets out client duties under building safety law

A coalition of construction industry organisations has published new guidance to help clients understand their legal responsibilities under the Building Safety Act and encourage compliance across all projects.

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) produced the Clients’ Guide to the Building Safety Act with support from eight organisations and backing from the Building Safety Regulator’s Industry Competence Committee (ICC).

The guide responds to concerns that some clients continue to prioritise cost and delivery speed while failing to meet their legislative duties under the Act, which has been in force since 2022.

It is supported by Constructing Excellence, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Construction Clients’ Leadership Group (CCLG), Cast Consultancy, SFG20, the Industry Competence Steering Group, Ackroyd Lowrie and the Safety & Health Engineering Partnership (SHEP).

It explains that the building safety regime applies to all buildings and is not limited to higher-risk or high-rise residential developments.

The document defines the client role, outlines legal duties and describes how compliance must be maintained throughout a project.

It also explains the consequences of failing to meet legal requirements and includes information on processes specific to higher-risk buildings and further resources.

The guidance presents complex legislation in plain English to reduce misunderstanding and support informed procurement decisions.

Jon Vanstone, chair of the Industry Competence Committee (ICC), said: “The Building Safety Act places clear legal duties on clients.

“They set the tone for projects through their procurement decisions, appointments and allocation of resources.

“If those duties are taken seriously and supported by competent appointments and informed oversight, the quality and safety of outcomes will improve.

“If they are not, no amount of downstream control can fully compensate.

“Guidance that helps clients understand both their statutory responsibilities and the practical implications of those responsibilities is therefore welcome, particularly where it aligns with the Regulator’s Principles for Informed Clients and supports consistent cross-industry understanding.”

Guidance aims to support informed procurement and reduce project risks

BESA director of specialist knowledge Rachel Davidson said the guidance was designed to help clients make safer procurement decisions and maintain compliance with legal requirements.

“This is a practical guide designed to help clients navigate the building safety process,” Davidson said.

“It is intended to educate not intimidate by explaining what good looks like so clients can make better, safer procurement decisions that also make sense for their businesses”.

“By following the information in the guide, they can reduce project risks and avoid costly mistakes which lead to expensive delays and re-designs.”

Davidson added that the guide would also help contractors explain legislative requirements and give them confidence to challenge procurement decisions that could affect safety and quality.

“Contractors are duty bound under the legislation to refuse to start work unless they are satisfied that the client is fully aware of their responsibilities.”

Lilly Gallafent, CEO of the Real Estate consultancy Cast, said the guide reinforced the need for clients to take responsibility for long-term building safety outcomes.

“Change needs to start with clients,” Gallafent said.

“Whilst many already do, clients all need to recognise that they have the power to drive a new culture through their supply chains, but they need to be willing to allocate risk fairly and focus on how their decisions will affect the operational life of their buildings.

“Pushing hard for cost savings at the start of a project can, when not managed appropriately, end up being very expensive in the long run and risk needs to be properly assessed and not just pushed down the supply chain.

“This excellent guide reminds us that this is a once in a generation opportunity to bring about meaningful and lasting change to construction procurement for the benefit of the industry and all building users.”

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) also welcomed the publication and said it would help clients understand their legal obligations under the Act.

Head of client development Linda Stevens said: “The Building Safety Act places responsibilities on both clients and their contractors, and we hear that for many clients it can be a struggle to get to grips with exactly what they are required by law to do.

“Our own Client Guide includes information on building safety amongst other important subjects, and we very much welcome this additional resource from BESA which can help clients in their understanding of what can be complex legislation.

“It can only be through everyone conforming to the Building Safety Act that we will ensure the built environment is safe for every community.”

The guide is available for free download and will be discussed at a building safety briefing event at the Palace of Westminster on May 5.

Fire Aware calls for duty of care-led cultural change in fire safety

by Featured NewsIndustry CommentSafety

Fire Aware and duty of care

Fire Aware has called for cultural change in fire safety through a duty of care across multiple sectors.

In the recent commentary piece, Fire Aware says everyone involved in the design, construction, maintenance and letting of the built environment should understand an obligation to fire safety, including businesses outside fire specialisms.

It also references Dame Judith Hackitt, who led the Grenfell Inquiry, and her calls for cultural change through moral and ethical behaviours.

The commentary adds that the new independent Building Safety Regulator has been created to “promote competence and higher standards.”

Fire Aware CEO Gavin Skelly said: “We have many members who are not directly connected to fire safety but still accept they have a duty of care for public safety.

“People can get hurt through a fire incident even if it is by the actions of people way outside of the fire specialisms.

“Committing to the moral and ethical values of being fire safe is more than a job.

“It’s a way of life and a vocation.

“Our members are all of the same mind and we are moving towards raising the bar of standards, competence and commitment to fire safety of the public.

“Ultimately, we are talking about protecting people.”

Sectors highlighted and the proposed approach

The commentary highlights hospitality and healthcare as sectors it describes as particularly vulnerable to fire risk.

It links hospitality risk to the number of bars, restaurants and hotels trusted to protect customers.

It links healthcare risk to protecting vulnerable and elderly people, including those who cannot look after themselves in the event of a real fire.

Fire Aware says it is focusing on the moral responsibility of those working in the fire safety supply chain, including designers, developers, asset owners, managers and other stakeholders.

It says it aims to influence member company behaviour through a moral code of conduct delivered via a series of charters.

Fire Aware describes itself as a recognised membership body serving the built environment and related sectors, with a shared aim to work and trade responsibly to best practice standards in the interests of general public safety.

Fire Aware backs BSR drive to raise competence across fire safety

by Featured NewsHealth and SafetySafety

BSR and Fire Aware’s position

Fire Aware has announced support for the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) as part of its campaign for cultural change across the fire safety industry.

The position was set out in a Fire Aware statement on its work with the regulator.

The organisation noted that the BSR became a formal standalone arm’s length body in January, operating under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government after transferring from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Fire Aware added that it is advising member organisations across multiple sectors on engagement with the regulator.

Gavin Skelly said: “We fully endorse the move towards cultural change.

“We must remember – those who hold a duty of care at all levels are working in a vocation, and not just a job.

“We are working with our members to improve the standards of our buildings old and new and to improve the competence of those working within them who hold a duty of care.

“The essence of the BSR’s aims are aligned with our own.

“Fire Aware would support this requirement and direct any of its members involved in the Gateway system to help the regulator achieve its goal, similar to that of Fire Aware’s mission, to primarily uphold public safety.”

Skelly also commented that all parts of the supply chain across multiple sectors should adopt the same vocational approach to duty of care.

Charters and duty of care

Fire Aware described its campaign as focusing on the moral responsibility of those working in the fire safety supply chain, including designers, developers, asset owners, managers and other stakeholders.

The body said it intends to introduce a moral code of conduct through a series of charters aimed at shaping how member companies behave when upholding their duty of care.

Fire Aware characterised itself as a recognised membership body serving the built environment and related sectors with a shared aim to work and trade responsibly to best practice standards in the interests of public safety.

The organisation’s stance links its internal charter programme with the regulator’s expectations for those submitting safety cases to the BSR.

Allegion UK commentary links building safety to digital fire door data

by Featured NewsFire DoorsIndustry CommentSafety

Building safety and digital fire door information

Allegion UK has published commentary from Sue Corrick on how digital information is being used in building safety, including how fire door hardware can act as a source of recorded data.

The commentary argues that improving the structure, quality and usability of digital handover information is central to meeting Regulation 38 and Golden Thread requirements.

Standardised, accessible asset data is presented as a way to support hardware specification, installation and maintenance across the supply chain.

It suggests that even highly mechanical components such as fire door closers can contribute to a more data-centred approach to compliance and building operation.

Certification, records and what data is used for

Corrick’s commentary sets out how testing and certification data for fire doors and their hardware components has often been inconsistent, missing or unverified.

Much of this information has historically been held in disconnected paperwork systems.

The piece states that test evidence should clearly show classifications, limitations and compatibility between components such as door closers, hinges and leaf assemblies.

Assessment reports should be transparent, retrievable and directly linked to a manufacturer’s products.

Digital record keeping is described as increasingly necessary for duty-holders who are responsible for products remaining reliable and suitable across a project’s lifecycle.

The Building Safety Act is said to have increased attention on competency and traceable, accessible product information.

The Golden Thread of Information is described as a legal requirement under the Act and a framework for creating, maintaining and accessing verified product data.

The commentary also references government proposals for a centralised library for construction products to expand regulatory coverage and support decision-making.

Inspection data from the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS) is cited as showing that care and maintenance issues are present in 54% of fire door inspections.

The piece gives examples of how door closer information can be embedded with the product itself, including video installation guides accessed via QR codes and safety critical data available through the Golden Thread.

Corrick said: “Fire door safety will always remain a technical discipline, but in an age where information can be accessed instantly from our fingertips, even a mechanical fire door closer has a digital voice.”