Knowledge Centre

Legislation

The Acts and regulations UK fire safety and health & safety duties actually come from — what each requires, where it applies, and where it currently stands.

8 instruments. 2 are not wholly in force — partially commenced, partially repealed, or with provisions still to be brought in — and the status on each card says which. These pages describe each instrument in our own words. They are general information, not legal advice, and not a substitute for the official text.

Partially in force1 unapplied effect

Building Safety Act 2022

2022 c. 30

The principal response to the Grenfell Tower fire, creating the higher-risk building regime, the Building Safety Regulator and new duties on those responsible for occupied buildings. Commenced in stages, with provisions still not in force.

Type: Primary legislation · UK Public General Act
Applies in: England and WalesExtends to England and Wales, Scotland, United Kingdom

In force

Fire Safety Act 2021

2021 c. 24

A short amending Act that settled which parts of a multi-occupied residential building the Fire Safety Order covers. Fully in force, but its operative sections now live inside the Order rather than standing on their own.

Type: Primary legislation · UK Public General Act
Applies in: England and Wales

In force3 unapplied effects

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

S.I. 2005/1541

The Fire Safety Order is the source of the duty to carry out and maintain a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment in England and Wales, and of the Responsible Person on whom that duty sits.

Type: Secondary legislation · Statutory Instrument
Applies in: England and Wales

In force

Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025

S.I. 2025/797

In force since April 2026, these Regulations introduce residential personal emergency evacuation plans and building emergency evacuation plans for taller residential buildings in England, and extend the secure information box duty.

Type: Secondary legislation · Statutory Instrument
Applies in: EnglandExtends to England and Wales

In force

Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022

S.I. 2022/547

Regulations made under the Fire Safety Order imposing specific, checkable duties on Responsible Persons for blocks of flats — information to residents, door checks, equipment records and premises information for fire and rescue services.

Type: Secondary legislation · Statutory Instrument
Applies in: EnglandExtends to England and Wales

In force1 unapplied effect

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

1974 c. 37

The primary Act of the British health and safety system, imposing general duties on employers, the self-employed and others, and providing the power under which almost all subsequent health and safety regulations are made.

Type: Primary legislation · UK Public General Act
Applies in: Great BritainExtends to Great Britain, Northern Ireland

In force

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

S.I. 1999/3242

The regulations requiring employers to assess risk and make arrangements for managing health and safety. Widely and wrongly still cited as the source of the fire risk assessment duty, which moved to the Fire Safety Order in 2006.

Type: Secondary legislation · Statutory Instrument
Applies in: Great Britain

Partially repealed1 unapplied effect

Fire (Scotland) Act 2005

2005 asp 5

Scotland's fire safety legislation. Part 3 places duties broadly equivalent to those in the Fire Safety Order on duty holders for relevant premises, and is the reason an English compliance checklist does not transfer.

Type: Primary legislation · Act of the Scottish Parliament
Applies in: Scotland

Legislation

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Building Safety Act 2022

Fire Safety Act 2021

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025

Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Fire (Scotland) Act 2005