A high-rise residential building is defined as a building containing two or more sets of domestic premises that are at least 18 metres tall or have at least seven storeys.
Fire Risk Assessments
To keep your people safe – and yourself within the law – make sure you have a Fire Risk Assessment. Visit our Fire Risk Assessment page for more information.
Secure Information Boxes (SIB)
Secure Information Boxes (SIB), also known as Secure Information Boxes (SIB), are secure storage boxes that hold crucial information about a building for the use of firefighters.
Under Fire Safety Regulations, the information that should be contained within the box is set out in the Code of Practice for the Provision of Premises Information Boxes in Residential Buildings published by the Fire Industry Association and the National Fire Chiefs Council. More information the Regulations are available on the GOV.UK website.
Responsible Persons must read the code and follow the guidance, further information on the siting, security and signage is available on the Secure Information Boxes page.
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into force on 23 January 2023.
The Regulations 2022 have been introduced as an important step towards implementing the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report.
The Regulations apply to England only and are being introduced under Article 24 of the Fire Safety Order. The Regulations can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Lifts and key firefighting equipment
Responsible persons must undertake routine monthly checks of lifts intended for use by firefighters, evacuation lifts, and other key pieces of firefighting equipment. Any faults identified with equipment that cannot be rectified within 24 hours should be reported.
Wayfinding and signage
Responsible persons must ensure that floor identification signs and flat indicator signs are installed. The signage is intended to assist responding firefighters and should be visible in low light or smoky conditions.
Building plans
Regulation 6 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 requires responsible persons of high-rise residential buildings in the Avon Fire and Rescue Service area – including South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset – to share up-to-date building plans with Avon Fire and Rescue Service. The plans will be used by operational firefighters during an incident and need to be clear, simple and easy to use.
Submit building plans and reportsBuilding wall design
Regulation 5 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 requires responsible persons of high-rise residential buildings to prepare a record of the design of the external walls and share it with Avon Fire and Rescue Service if the building is within the Service area, including South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset.
The responsible person is required to provide details of the materials used in wall construction as well as information on the level of risk of fire spread that the external wall structure poses, and any steps that have been taken to mitigate these risks.
Submit design and materials of external wallsFaults and repairs
Regulation 7 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 requires responsible persons of high-rise residential buildings to undertake monthly routine checks of specific fire safety equipment, including:
- Lifts for use by firefighters or evacuation lifts
- Automatic door release systems
- Evacuation alert systems
- Fire detection and alarm systems
- Rising mains
- Smoke control systems
- Suppression systems
The responsible person must take steps to rectify the faults with any of the above equipment.
If it cannot be rectified in 24 hours, then the fault must be reported to the fire and rescue service, and you must be informed once the fault has been rectified.
This information will help us by highlighting faults with equipment, which residents and firefighters may rely on for their safety so that it can be factored into our operational response.
Submit faults and repairs Contact Business Safety Team