In advance of the Phase 2 report from the Grenfell Inquiry, the Government yesterday set out proposals to update various building regulations.

1. Fire safety and evacuation
   1. Residential PEEPs
      1. The Government propose to introduce Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (or PEEPs), which will be known as “Residential PEEPs”. As highlighted in the Grenfell Inquiry, there was a clear lack of information and personal plans in place for the evacuation of vulnerable residents. Requiring “person-centred” risk assessments to be undertaken to produce a Residential PEEP should assist in evacuations.
      2. Additionally, funding is to be committed to social housing providers to deliver Residential PEEPs for their renters. It is not clear how much funding has been allocated and whether this will be sufficient. As well as the financial cost involved in undertaking a risk assessment, it will also be necessary to have trained staff members with the time to undertake such assessments. This may not be straightforward, given the other building safety compliance work that is currently being undertaken by such organisations.
   2. Evacuation Alert Systems (known as sounders) – An amendment is to be made to the statutory guidance to the building regulations requiring sounders to be fitted in new buildings over 18 metres in height (as such, “higher-risk buildings” under the Building Safety Act 2022). The Government has confirmed they will consider whether a requirement to install sounders in existing buildings is required once the Phase 2 report has been published. It is not clear whether these changes are in anticipation of further criticism of the “stay-put” policy in respect to fighting fires in high rise buildings or whether there will be a recommendation that the stay-put policy is dropped in favour of full evacuation. 
2. Sprinklers in new care homes – There will be an update to Approved Document B that makes provision for sprinklers in all new care homes. The guidance update will be subject to a 6-month transition period and then there will be a further 6 months to enable work on current development projects that are underway or about to start to continue (we assume this means that any projects currently or to commence in the next 12 months will not need to have complied with the requirement to include sprinklers in the design). The Government acknowledges that it is already relatively common for sprinklers to be included in new care home designs.
3. Extension of the recognition of the CE marking for construction products  –Recognition of the CE mark was to expire at the end of June 2025. The Government has confirmed that recognition will continue for the CE mark in the UK indefinitely, which will allow for a wider reform of construction products regulation. When they do look to make further changes to the CE mark recognition this would be subject to a minimum 2-year transitional period, which is designed to give certainty and to support supply chains.
4. Rationalising and removing duplication in regulations – The Government is withdrawing the outdated National Classes fire testing standards (within the building regulations Approved Document B) which ends a period of dual specification in favour of the “more robust European standard” (known as BS EN 13501). There will be a transitional period of 5 years for fire resistance products and 6 months for reaction to fire products to allow for manufacturers to switch to the European standard. This reflects recommendations from the Hackitt Report for a clearer, transparent and effective testing regime.