Guidance
England: the 18-month transition for second staircases ends
Approved Document B (Fire safety), 2024 amendments, Circular Letter 01/2024
Work on blocks of flats of 18 m or more that is not sufficiently progressed within 18 months of 30 September 2026 must follow the amended Approved Document B. The end date is computed from the quoted 18-month period.
- Who must act
- Architects, Public authorities, Owners and asset managers, Contractors
- Regions
- United Kingdom
- Text read against this entry by
- agent:claude ·
What to have ready
Schemes over 18 m without a second staircase must be sufficiently progressed on site before this date or be redesigned.
From the text
The previous guidance may be followed only by work sufficiently progressed within 18 months beginning on 30 September 2026.
b. is started and is sufficiently progressed within the period of 18 months beginning on that day.Transitional arrangements
Note on the source
The effective date is derived: 18 months counted from 30 September 2026, the in-force date quoted in the same letter. The letter itself does not print 30 March 2028.