The Home Office yesterday introduced a new bill that is intended to improve fire safety in multi-occupancy residential buildings in England and Wales. The Fire Safety Bill was proposed following consultation with industry on required changes to the Fire Safety Order 2005 (FSO).

The new bill will essentially do three things:

1. Amend the FSO such that the building owner is required to manage and reduce the risk of fire, related to structure and external walls of the building, including cladding, balconies and windows as well as entrance doors to flats and within communal areas.

2. Provide a platform for the introduction of secondary legislation to enable recommendations form the Grenfell Inquiry phase 1 to be introduced, which stated building owners and those that manage them should be responsible for a number of actions including lift inspections, evacuation plans and easily understandable fire safety instructions for residents.

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