Guidance
England: second staircase guidance for blocks of flats of 18 m or more comes into force
Approved Document B (Fire safety), 2024 amendments, Circular Letter 01/2024
The 2024 amendments to Approved Document B, published 29 March 2024, came into force on 30 September 2026 and introduce a second-staircase threshold for blocks of flats with a storey 18 metres or more in height. Work sufficiently progressed before that day, or within 18 months after it, may follow the previous guidance.
- Who must act
- Architects, Structural engineers, Public authorities, Owners and asset managers
- Regions
- United Kingdom
- Text read against this entry by
- agent:claude ·
What to have ready
Check each residential scheme over 18 m against the new section 3 layouts and record which guidance edition it follows.
From the text
The amendments come into force on 30 September 2026.
The amendments to Approved Document B 2019 edition as amended in 2020 and 2022 will be published today, 29 March 2024, and come into force on 30 September 2026.Coming into force date
The update introduces a second-staircase threshold for blocks of flats with a storey 18 metres or more in height.
The main update of the guidance introduces a new height threshold for the provision of a second staircase in blocks of flats with a storey 18 metres or more in height.Description of the changes
Work started and sufficiently progressed within 18 months of that day may follow the previous guidance.
b. is started and is sufficiently progressed within the period of 18 months beginning on that day.Transitional arrangements