The past year has been a significant one in the area of fire safety, with significant changes stemming from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report, the continued rollout of fire safety reforms and growing attention to emerging risks like lithium-ion battery fires. Reforms are expected to continue and even step up in 2025 as the recommendations from the Grenfell Tower inquiry are implemented. Steep fines for violations have been levied in the past year. The evolving regulations along with the real risk of fines make it crucial to stay informed and prepare for what lies ahead.

Steep fines for breaches

Legislators are not shying away from fining offenders: two care home directors were recently fined nearly £125,000 after pleading guilty to multiple fire safety offences across four premises. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service described the case as one of the most serious they’ve prosecuted. The case highlighted critical failures in fire precautions, detection equipment, and risk assessments. 

About the care home fire safety breaches and resulting fines, area manager George O’Reilly said:

“ESFRS are legally required to enforce the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. We take this responsibility seriously and we will not hesitate to take legal action against anyone responsible for placing people at risk of death or injury from fire due to their failures to meet the requirements of this legislation.”

The fines serve as a wake up call to businesses to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as amended by the Building Safety Act 2022.

Fire safety regulation in 2024 and what to expect in 2025

• Over a year since the enhanced obligations under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into effect, many Responsible Persons still face challenges, particularly around fire risk assessments. Breaches of these assessment requirements are among the most common allegations faced by Fire Risk Assessors. With regulators increasingly scrutinising compliance, businesses and specifically duty holders must ensure fire safety strategies are robust and well-documented to avoid breaches.
  
  
• The risks associated with lithium-ion batteries gained considerable focus throughout 2024 following several high-profile fires in the UK and abroad. Lithium-ion batteries are found in devices including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, mobility scooters, e-bikes, e-scooters, e-cigarettes and hoverboards. While regulation is still evolving—including the Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Bill currently under review—duty holders are expected to proactively manage these hazards, particularly on construction sites, where the London Fire Brigade has issued specific safety guidance. Industries utilising electric vehicles, e-bikes, or energy storage systems must prioritise fire risk mitigation and ensure workers are trained to handle such incidents.
  
  
• In residential settings, fire safety requirements are tightening further. From March 2025, all new-build care homes in England will be required to include fire sprinklers, enhancing protection for vulnerable residents. Additionally, the Government’s proposed new Residential PEEP (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans) policy will mandate clearer evacuation strategies for high-rise residential buildings and flats with simultaneous evacuation plans. This includes a five step process which includes identifying at-risk residents, sharing information with local fire services, and implementing person-centred fire risk assessments to improve emergency response.
  
  
• The updated fire safety standard (BS 9991:2024) introduces revised technical guidance for residential buildings. These guidelines, which apply to residential buildings, replace the previous 2015 standards. The new regulations include stricter measures for single-stair buildings, sprinkler installations, and evacuation lift recommendations.
   
• In November 2024, the Government introduced its Remediation Acceleration Plan that aims to speed up the removal of unsafe cladding by 2029. The plan outlines specific timelines for cladding removal, and sets out penalties that could be imposed on landlords for failure to meet the deadlines.
  
  
• All signs point to fire safety remaining a priority in 2025, with changes likely to come as a result of recommendations made in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase 2 report which was released in September 2024. These recommendations include establishing a single independent construction industry regular, requiring statutory fire safety strategies for high risk buildings, formally recognising fire safety engineering as a regulated profession, and introducing a mandatory accreditation system for fire risk assessors. The new Labour government has committed to responding to all 58 recommendations within six months, though implementation timelines remain to be determined.

Organisations involved in construction, building management, and refurbishment must stay informed and act decisively to comply with evolving standards.

How can VinciWorks help?

Training

Fire safety awareness can save lives. Most workplace fires contain multiple hazards, with chemicals and substances only increasing the danger to life and limb. VinciWorks’ IOSH-approved fire safety courses keep your staff safe and trained on how to spot, minimise and control fire risks at work.