Review of Approved Document B: Fire Safety

Overview

Consultation proposal on changes to Approved Document B

Scope of the consultation

Topic of this consultation

Proposals to amend Approved Document B to:  

1. undertake small but important clarifications and technical changes to the guidance within Approved Document B 

2. consolidate guidance for designing building work on existing buildings 

3. introduce a threshold whereby the guidance within Approved Document B should not be applied when combustible elements of structure are used 

4. revise and update guidance on external wall systems and balconies and review the scope of the ban on combustible materials in and on external walls 

5. recommend the provision of evacuation lifts in residential buildings above 18m and clarify the guidance for non-residential buildings 

6. update terminology on 'sheltered housing', introducing the new term 'specialised housing' in its place and include provisions for alarm coverage in these building types to be a minimum of Category LD1.  

7. introduce updated guidance on roofs, including new provisions for the incorporation of photovoltaic (PV) panels  

8. increase in the fire resistance rating of open-sided car parks 

Scope of this consultation:

Building Regulations – Approved Document B 

Geographical scope:

These proposals relate to England only.  

Impact Assessment:  

Consultation stage analysis is included in this consultation. Further work will be carried out in advance of a decision following consultation. Changes to the analysis may be made based on responses received.  

Basic information

Body/bodies responsible for the consultation: 

Building Safety Regulator (BSR) 
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) 
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) 

Duration: 

The consultation will run for 12 weeks from 25th March 2026 to 17th June 2026.

Enquiries:

For any enquiries about the consultation please contact: ADBconsultation@hse.gov.uk

How to respond:

We encourage you to respond by completing this online survey.

Alternatively, you can email your response to the questions.

If you are responding in writing, please make it clear which questions you are responding to.  

Written responses should be sent to:  

Building Safety Regulator 
Health and Safety Executive 
4th Floor 
10 South Colonnade 
London 
E14 5EA

When you reply, it would be useful if you confirm whether you are replying as an individual or submitting an official response on behalf of an organisation and include:  

• your name 
• your postcode (if applicable) 
• the name of organisation (if applicable) 
• an address (including postcode) 
• an email address, and 
• a contact telephone number

We strongly encourage responses via the online survey. Using the online survey greatly assists our analysis of the responses, enabling more efficient and effective consideration of the issues raised.

If you require a more accessible format of this document, please send details to HSE.Online@hse.gov.uk and your request will be considered.

© Building Safety Regulator, 2026

This consultation has been published by the Health and Safety Executive on behalf of the Building Safety Regulator. 

This Consultation on proposed changes to Approved Document B documentation is licensed under the Open Government Licence 3.0, except where otherwise stated.