Knowledge Centre

News & regulatory updates

What has actually changed in UK fire and health & safety regulation — enforcement, prosecutions, consultations, standards, recalls and new duties, each reported from its primary source.

10 items, of which 2 are monthly round-ups — dated records of a month, kept unedited so they still say what was true at the time. Every item cites the primary source it came from and the date we checked it. These pages are general information, not legal advice.

NewsRegulatory change

Second staircase guidance takes effect on 30 September 2026

Published 20 July 2026

Approved Document B Volume 1 will recommend a second staircase in blocks of flats with a storey 18 m or more, with an eighteen-month transitional period.

Announced: 2 September 2024
Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

NewsProduct recall

E-moped recalled after London Fire Brigade traced an underground car park fire to its battery

Published 6 July 2026

OPSS recalled the UNU E-Moped Scooter Classic after brigade investigators found the manufacturer had recalled it in Europe but not in the UK.

Recall issued: 2 July 2026
Source: London Fire Brigade and the Office for Product Safety and Standards

NewsGovernment guidance

MHCLG updates residential PEEPs guidance to match the new duties

Published 9 April 2026

Guidance for responsible persons was updated on the day the evacuation plan regulations came into force, setting out identification, assessment and information-sharing steps.

Announced: 6 April 2026
Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

NewsEnforcement

HSE inspectors checking asbestos management in buildings through 2026

Published 8 April 2026

An inspection campaign targeting building owners, landlords and tradespeople, checking management plans, training and the arrangements for work liable to disturb asbestos.

Announced: 1 April 2026
Source: Health and Safety Executive

Monthly round-upRegulatory change

March 2026 round-up: Approved Document B consultation, a new fire door standard and an asbestos prosecution

Published 1 April 2026

A dated record of what changed in March 2026 across fire and health & safety regulation, kept unedited as a record of the month.

Source: Multiple regulators — each item below cites its own primary source

NewsConsultation

Government consults on the biggest Approved Document B revision since 2019

Published 27 March 2026

The Building Safety Regulator and MHCLG consulted on changes to external wall guidance, combustible structural elements and evacuation lifts, closing on 1 July 2026.

Opened: 25 March 2026
Source: Building Safety Regulator and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

NewsStandards update

BS 8214:2026 published, replacing the 2016 fire door code of practice

Published 24 March 2026

The code of practice for fire-resisting and smoke control doors has been revised for the first time in a decade, and now covers smoke control doors in its title.

Takes effect: 20 March 2026
Source: BSI

NewsProsecution

Two companies fined and site manager given suspended sentence over asbestos disturbance

Published 12 March 2026

A Cannock demolition site disturbed asbestos identified in its own survey. Fines of £74,900 and £13,400, a suspended prison sentence and a five-year director disqualification followed.

Sentenced: 6 March 2026
Source: Health and Safety Executive

Monthly round-upRegulatory change

July 2025 round-up: residential evacuation plan duties made law

Published 1 August 2025

A dated record of July 2025, when the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations were published with a commencement date nine months out.

Source: Multiple regulators — each item below cites its own primary source