The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 — duties in higher and multi-occupied residential buildings

What they require

Where the Fire Safety Order sets out a general duty, these Regulations set out specific, checkable things a Responsible Person must do in buildings containing two or more domestic premises in England. The obligations scale with the height of the building, with the fullest set applying to buildings above 18 metres or of at least seven storeys.

In broad terms they cover: information to residents about fire safety and the building's evacuation strategy; routine checks of flat entrance doors and of doors in common parts; records and information about lifts and other firefighting equipment; and information made available to the fire and rescue service, including a secure information box and building plans.

What this means in practice

The significance of these Regulations is that they turn matters of judgement into matters of record. Under the Order alone, whether door checks were adequate is arguable. Under these Regulations, at the applicable building heights, there is a defined frequency and a record either exists or it does not.

That makes them the most common source of findings in block management work. It also makes the height thresholds worth establishing carefully at the outset of any assessment: a building at 17 metres and a building at 19 metres attract materially different duties.

Jurisdiction — extent is not application

This is the clearest example on the site of a distinction that matters.

The Regulations extend to England and Wales, meaning they form part of the law of that jurisdiction. They apply only in England. A managing agent responsible for a block in Cardiff is not subject to them, even though they sit within the law of England and Wales. Welsh buildings remain subject to the Fire Safety Order, and Wales is developing its own building safety regime.

Anyone using a compliance checklist written for England on a Welsh building will over-state the duties; anyone assuming Wales has an equivalent set will under-state what is actually different.

Where they stand

In force since 23 January 2023, fully commenced, with no outstanding effects recorded at the date checked. Regulation 4(2)(b) was amended on 6 April 2026 by the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025, so the secure information box must now also hold the documents those Regulations require.

The official revised text was stated as current to 13 April 2026 when checked.