Statutory guidance

Fire safety: Approved Document B

Building regulation in England covering fire safety matters within and around buildings.

From:
DepartmentMinistry forof LevellingHousing, Up,Communities Housing and CommunitiesLocal Government, and Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2018 to 2021) and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Published
7 December 2010
Last updated
292 MarchSeptember 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

2029 amendments to Approved Document B, volume 1 and volume 2

PDF, 455 KB, 40 pages

2026 amendments to Approved Document B, volume 1 and volume 2

PDF, 246 KB, 13 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

2025 amendments to Approved Document B, volume 1 and volume 2

PDF, 232 KB, 20 pages

March 2024 amendments to Approved Document B, volume 1 and volume 2

PDF, 252 KB, 13 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings, 2019 edition incorporating 2020 and 2022 amendments

PDF, 6.02 MB, 180 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings, 2019 edition incorporating 2020 and 2022 amendments

PDF, 4.37 MB, 204 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

June 2022 amendments to Approved Document B, volume 1 and volume 2

PDF, 1.06 MB, 54 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings, 2019 edition incorporating 2020 amendments

PDF, 3.01 MB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings, 2019 edition incorporating 2020 amendments

PDF, 3.26 MB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

May 2020 amendments to Approved Document B, volume 1 and volume 2

PDF, 172 KB, 12 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings, 2019 edition

Ref: ISBN 978-1-85946-915-6

PDF, 2.75 MB, 180 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings, 2019 edition

Ref: ISBN 978-1-85946-916-3

PDF, 2.94 MB, 204 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: dwellinghouses, 2006 edition incorporating amendments up to December 2018

PDF, 2.22 MB, 84 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 2: buildings other than dwellinghouses, 2006 edition incorporating amendments up to April 2019

PDF, 4.54 MB, 172 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

November 2018 to April 2019 amendments to Approved Document B, Volume 1 and Volume 2

PDF, 360 KB, 20 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

December 2018 amendments to Approved Document B, Volume 1 and Volume 2

PDF, 146 KB, 12 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

November 2018 amendment to Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 2: buildings other than dwellinghouses

PDF, 314 KB, 12 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

2013 amendments to Approved Documents

PDF, 479 KB, 51 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Building regulations fire safety procedural guidance (2015 – 5th edition)

https://www.labc.co.uk/guidance/resource-library/technical-guide-building-regulations-fire-safety-procedural-guidance

Approved Document B: Fire safety - frequently asked questions

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/approved-document-b-fire-safety-frequently-asked-questions

Approved Document B: frequently asked questions (No longer current)

PDF, 1.26 MB, 12 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: dwellinghouses, 2006 edition incorporating the 2010 and 2013 amendments (No longer current)

Ref: ISBN 978-1-85946-488-5

PDF, 2.88 MB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 2: buildings other than dwellinghouses, 2006 edition incorporating 2010 and 2013 amendments (No longer current)

Ref: ISBN 978-1-85946-489-2

PDF, 4.91 MB

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@levellingup.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Building regulations for fire safety in residential homes, including new and existing dwellings, flats, residential accommodation, schools, colleges and offices.

Updates of Approved Document B (Fire Safety) for 2025, 2026 and 2029

Updates to Approved Document B make provision for sprinklers in all new care homes and withdraw national classes (BS 476 fire tests).

These policy updates flow from the ‘Sprinklers in care homes; removal of national classes; and second staircases in residential buildings’ consultation that ran from December 2022 to March 2023.

Provision is made for sprinklers to be installed in new care homes.

Withdrawal of the outdated national classes fire testing standards is concluded, ending a long period of dual specification. The more robust European standard (BS EN 13501) remains in place.

Transition periods for both policy updates will offer certainty to investors and enable smooth transition without disrupting supply chains.

On 2 April 2020, as a response to the call for evidence: a technical review of Approved Document B of the building regulations, ​a workplan was released showing upcoming research to inform updates to fire safety guidance provided in Approved Document B.

The announcement of the new clarified Approved Document B is provided in the Circular. A government response to the consultation has been published.

We have also published frequently asked questions following the ban on combustible materials in external walls: Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018: frequently asked questions

Archived versions of Approved Document B are available at the National Archives

Order printed copies

Online: RIBA books
Telephone: 020 7496 8383
Email: sales@ribabookshops.com

Updates to this page

Published 7 December 2010
Last updated 292 MarchSeptember 2024 + show all updates

  1. Added updates of Approved Document B (Fire Safety) for 2025, 2026 and 2029.

  2. Added March 2024 amendments to Approved Document B, volume 1 and volume 2.

  3. Added: Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings, 2019 edition incorporating 2020 and 2022 amendments; and Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings, 2019 edition incorporating 2020 and 2022 amendments.

  4. Added link to Approved Document B: Fire safety - frequently asked questions

  5. Added June 2022 amendments to Approved Document B, Volume 1 and Volume 2.

  6. Added: Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings, 2019 edition incorporating 2020 amendments; and Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings, 2019 edition incorporating 2020 amendments

  7. Added May 2020 amendments to Approved Document B, Volume 1 and Volume 2.

  8. Added a link to Technical review of Approved Document B workplan.

  9. Replaced: Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings, 2019 edition; and Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings, 2019 edition

  10. The department has become aware of a potential error in Approved Document B volume 1 2019 edition which details the provision of dampers fitted to the vents of smoke shafts. The department is investigating with industry experts the use of the defined term “fire and smoke dampers” in paragraph 3.51 iii. In addition to this, the guidance in relation to double-skinned insulated roof sheeting will be updated. Diagram 5.2a (volume 1) diagram 8.2a (volume 2) with the associated text in paragraph 5.14 (volume 1) and 8.28 (volume 2) will be updated to remove “with a thermoplastic core”. This brings the text in line with the previous edition of ADB and ensures there is no technical change to the new clarified document. Both volumes of Approved Document B have been removed from sale and from GOV.UK. The potential future corrections will be limited to the paragraphs and diagrams referenced above only.

  11. Added: 'Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings, 2019 edition' and 'Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings, 2019 edition'.

  12. Added November 2018 to April 2019 amendments to Approved Document B, Volume 1 and Volume 2.

  13. Added 2018 amendments to Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1 and volume 2.

  14. Added 2018 amendment to Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 2: buildings other than dwellinghouses - amendments to statutory guidance covering fire safety matters within and around buildings in England.

  15. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page