Planned fire safety changes to Building Regulations
Proposed changes to the Building Regulations in England – including a move to scrap the fire protection provisions in Local Acts and new steps to improve enforcement – have been issued for consultation by the Government.
Many of the planned changes are intended to strip away regulation, either because it is an unnecessary cost burden or there are other ways to achieve the same outcomes.
The proposals include repealing the fire protection provisions in Local Acts – discretionary powers that some local authorities have, which apply over and above those in the national Building Regulations. ‘This will free-up businesses from the costs of these requirements, which apply inconsistently across the country,’ says the Government.
Other changes being planned include minor amendments to the technical guidance in the Approved Document B guidance to resolve practical problems in the application of Requirement B2, covering internal fire spread (linings). There are also proposals relating to Part P of the Regulations, dealing with electrical safety in homes, which seek to reduce compliance costs for installers and consumers.
Steps to make the building control process more efficient and strengthen enforcement of the regulations are also outlined – including increasing the maximum fine available, introducing new compliance notices, and improving competition between building control bodies.
The proposals can be found via the ‘Consultations’ section of www.communities.gov.uk. Responses must be received by 27 April 2012, with the Government aiming to bring into force the main changes next year.
The proposals include repealing the fire protection provisions in Local Acts – discretionary powers that some local authorities have, which apply over and above those in the national Building Regulations. ‘This will free-up businesses from the costs of these requirements, which apply inconsistently across the country,’ says the Government.
Other changes being planned include minor amendments to the technical guidance in the Approved Document B guidance to resolve practical problems in the application of Requirement B2, covering internal fire spread (linings). There are also proposals relating to Part P of the Regulations, dealing with electrical safety in homes, which seek to reduce compliance costs for installers and consumers.
Steps to make the building control process more efficient and strengthen enforcement of the regulations are also outlined – including increasing the maximum fine available, introducing new compliance notices, and improving competition between building control bodies.
The proposals can be found via the ‘Consultations’ section of www.communities.gov.uk. Responses must be received by 27 April 2012, with the Government aiming to bring into force the main changes next year.
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