A B N 3.1 1.4 о S Ground Floor F.F.L 1 1: 100 B 3 S 2 First Floor F.F.L 2 1: 100 A B C 3 N S 2 Second Floor F.F.L 1: 100/n ONLINE VERSION HM Government The Building Regulations 2010 Amendments to the Approved Documents This document contains amendments to the following Approved Document: Approved Document B: Fire safety Volume 1-Dwellings Volume 2 - Buildings other than dwellings 2019 edition incorporating the 2020 and 2022 amendments March 2024 For use in England ONLINE VERSION ONLINE VERSION The Building Regulations 2010 Introduction This document sets out amendments to guidance previously published in Approved Document B: Fire safety, Volume 1 – Dwellings and Volume 2 - Buildings other than dwellings, 2019 edition incorporating the 2020 and 2022 amendments. These amendments will be incorporated into both the online and paper versions of Approved Document B Volume 1 and Volume 2 when the changes take effect. Versions from before that date will need to be read alongside the amendments listed in this document. You should always check the online version to know that you are looking at the most up to date version. The changes highlighted in this amendment booklet take effect on 30 September 2026 for use in England. The 2019 edition incorporating the 2020 and 2022 amendments will continue to apply where a building notice or an initial notice has been given to, or a building control approval application with full plans made to, the relevant authority before 30 September 2026 and either the building work to which it relates: a. has started and is sufficiently progressed before that day; or b. is started and is sufficiently progressed within the period of 18 months beginning on that day. Please note that ‘building notice', ‘initial notice' and ‘building control approval application with full plans' have the meanings given in the Building Regulations 2010. For the purpose of these transitional arrangements, building work is to be regarded as ‘sufficiently progressed': a. where the building work consists of the construction of a building, when the pouring of concrete for the permanent placement of the trench, pad or raft foundations has started, or the permanent placement of piling has started; or b. C. where the building work consists of work to an existing building, when that work has started; or where the building work consists of a material change of use of a building, when work to effect that change of use has stated. The changes focus on the following fire safety provisions: a. A new recommendation for more than one common stair to be provided in blocks of flats with a storey 18m or more in height. b. Building design provisions to support the use of evacuation lifts in blocks of flats. Full details of the changes are provided below. 2 Amendments to the Approved Documents ONLINE VERSION ONLINE VERSION The Building Regulations 2010 The Building Regulations 2010 Approved Document B: Fire safety Volume 1 - Dwellings 2019 edition incorporating the 2020 and 2022 amendments List of amendments March 2024 Page 26 Section 3: Means of escape - flats Means of escape in the common parts of flats Replace subheading 'Number of escape routes' with the following. Design for horizontal escape Replace paragraph 3.27 with the following. 3.27 From the flat entrance door, a single escape route is acceptable in either of the following cases. a. The flat is on a storey served by a single common stair and both of the following apply. i. Every flat is separated from the common stair by a protected lobby or common protected corridor (see Diagram 3.7). ii. The maximum travel distance in Table 3.1, for escape in one direction only, is not exceeded. b. The flat is on a storey served by two (or more) common stairs, the flat is in a dead end of a common corridor and the maximum travel distance given in Table 3.1, for escape in one direction only, is not exceeded (Diagram 3.8). Replace Table 3.1 with the following. Table 3.1 Limitations on travel distance in common areas of blocks of flats Maximum travel distance from flat entrance door to storey exit or stair lobby (1) Escape in one direction 7.5m(2)(3) Escape in more than one direction 30m(3)(4) NOTES: 1. If travel distance is measured to a stair lobby, the lobby must not provide direct access to any storage room, flat or other space containing a fire hazard. 2. In the case of a small single stair building in accordance with Diagram 3.9, this is reduced to 4.5m. 3. Does not apply if all flats on a storey have independent alternative means of escape. 4. Sheltered housing may require reduced maximum travel distances. Approved Document B 3 ONLINE VERSION ONLINE VERSION Page 27 The Building Regulations 2010 Replace Diagram 3.7 with the following. See para 3.27 and 3.40 a. Corridor access flats F F F F 7.5m max 7.5m max. F F F F b. Lobby access flats F 7.5m max. F F F Stair lobby with no flat opening directly into it F Flat Shaded areas indicate zones where ventilation should be provided in accordance with paragraphs 3.57 to 3.43 (An external wall vent or smoke shaft located anywhere in the shaded area) Fire resisting construction NOTES: 1. The arrangements shown also apply to the top storey. 2. See Diagram 3.9 for small single stair buildings. 3. All doors shown are fire doorsets. 4. Where travel distance is measured to a stair lobby, the lobby must not provide direct access to any storage room, flat or other space containing a potential fire hazard. 5. For further guidance on the performance of the fire doorsets from the corridor to the flat and/or evacuation shaft refer to Appendix C, Table Cl. 6. A single common stair arrangement is only suitable for use in buildings with a top storey less than 18m in height (see Diagram D6 in Appendix D). Diagram 3.7 Horizontal escape for flats served by a single common stair 4 Amendments to the Approved Documents ONLINE VERSION Page 28 ONLINE VERSION Replace Diagram 3.8 with the following. See para 3.27 and 3.40 The Building Regulations 2010 a. Corridor access without dead ends F F F F F Fd LL F F F F F F F F F 30m max. b. Corridor access with dead ends The central door may be omitted if maximum travel distance is not more than 15m F F F F F F F Fd Fd Fd F F F F F 7.5m max. 30m max. c. 'T' junction with main corridor F F F LL F F Fd 7.5m max. Fd F LL F F F LL F F F 7.5m max. Fd Cross-corridor fire doorset F Flat Shaded areas indicate zones where ventilation should be provided in accordance with paragraphs 3.57 to 3.60 (An external wall vent or smoke shaft located anywhere in the shaded area) Fire resisting construction → Escape route NOTES: 1. The arrangements shown also apply to the top storey. 2. For further guidance on the fire resistance rating of the fire doorsets from the corridor to the flat and/or stairway refer to Appendix C, Table Cl. Diagram 3.8 Horizontal escape for flats served by more than one common stair Approved Document B 5 ONLINE VERSION

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