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Statutory guidance

Fire safety: Approved Document B

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

Updates to this page

From:
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2018 to 2021)
Published:
7 December 2010
Last updated:
16 September 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updates to Approved Document B introduce guidance on second stairs and evacuation lifts in taller residential buildings.

  2. Added Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1 & 2: 2019 edition incorporating 2020, 2022 and 2025 amendments collated with 2026 and 2029 amendments.

  3. Replaced Approved Document B vols.1 and 2 (2019 ed. incorporating 2020 and 2022 amendments collated with 2025, 2026 and 2029 amendments) to make corrections.

  4. Added Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings, and volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings - both 2019 edition incorporating 2020 and 2022 amendments collated with 2025, 2026 and 2029 amendments.

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

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

  7. 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.

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

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

  10. 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

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

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

  13. 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

  14. 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.

  15. 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'.

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

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

  18. 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.

  19. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1: Dwellings, 2019 edition incorporating 2020, 2022,2025 and 2026 amendments collated with 2029 amendments

PDF, 9.64 MB, 200 pages

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Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 2: Buildings other than dwellings, 2019 edition incorporating 2020, 2022, 2025 and 2026 amendments collated with 2029 amendments

PDF, 2.43 MB, 224 pages

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Approved Document B: Fire safety - frequently asked questions

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

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

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

PDF, 248 KB, 22 pages

March 2024 amendments to Approved Document B, volume 1 and volume 2 (No longer current)

PDF, 252 KB, 13 pages

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

PDF, 1.06 MB, 54 pages

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

PDF, 172 KB, 12 pages

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Details

Since April 2023, the Building Safety Regulator has a duty under the Building Safety Act 2022 to keep under review the safety and standards of all buildings in England, which includes advising government on updates to the Approved Documents.

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

Find historical documents relating to Approved Document B: Fire Safety.

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