BS 9991:2024: What the Latest Fire Safety Code of Practice Means for Residential Buildings
6th December 2024
The fire safety code of practice is constantly evolving to keep people safer, and the recent publication of BS 9991:2024 on 27th November 2024 marks an important step forward. This update brings significant changes to how we approach fire safety in residential buildings, including care homes - but what does this mean for fire safety professionals and building managers?
What's Changed?
The updates to BS 9991:2024 reflect our growing understanding of fire safety needs in modern residential buildings. Let's look at the key changes and why they matter:
- Care homes now included
- For the first time, the code of practice specifically addresses care homes. This is particularly important as these environments house some of our most vulnerable residents, requiring special consideration for their safety and evacuation needs.
- Better evacuation planning
- One of the most significant improvements is the expanded guidance on evacuation lifts. If you're responsible for fire safety in taller buildings or those housing people with mobility needs, you'll find clearer direction on ensuring everyone can exit safely during an emergency.
- Updated building requirements
- The code of practice introduces revised height limits for sprinkler installation and single-stair buildings. While this might sound technical, it's actually about making sure our buildings have the right safety systems in place based on their size and layout.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you're involved in fire safety management, these changes will affect your work in several ways:
- Your fire risk assessments may need updating, especially if you work with care homes
- Emergency evacuation plans might require a fresh look to match new guidance
- Building safety systems could need adjustments to meet updated requirements
- Staff training will need to cover these new aspects of fire safety
Keeping Your Skills Current
With such important changes in place, it's essential to make sure your knowledge is up to date. That’s why we've designed our courses to help you understand and implement these new requirements effectively:
- Our Fire Risk Assessor course gives you hands-on experience with the latest assessment methods
- The Managing Fire Safety course helps you implement this new code of practice
- Our ABBE Level 3 Certificate in Fire Risk Assessment provides formal recognition of your expertise
Ready to Update Your Knowledge?
Here's how you can stay ahead of these changes:
- Take a look at your current fire safety procedures
- Consider which areas might need updating
- Book one of our upcoming courses to refresh your skills
Want to learn more about how these changes affect your role? Our expert team is here to help. Give us a call on 01925 211488, or check our course calendar for upcoming training dates.
