Construction Firms Urged to Deepen Understanding of New Fire Safety Regulations
Construction companies need to enhance their knowledge of updated building regulations and fire safety standards, an industry specialist group has warned.
With the recent release of the updated BS 9991:2024 Fire Safety in the Design, Management and Use of Residential Buildings standard, the Business Sprinkler Alliance (BSA) has highlighted “widespread misunderstandings” about the application of these regulations.
The BSA, which represents fire safety professionals, noted that many firms are overly focused on meeting guidance for high-risk residential buildings while neglecting other critical recommendations from the Grenfell Inquiry.
Industry Shift Needed in Fire Safety Approaches
BSA secretary Thomas Roche stated that the construction industry must “rethink its approach to fire safety,” moving beyond a mindset of basic compliance.
“The industry has traditionally operated on meeting minimum requirements without fully understanding the intent of the regulations,” Roche said. “This confusion isn’t limited to residential buildings—it’s also an issue in industrial and commercial structures, which pose different but equally important risks.”
The Fire Industry Association (FIA) echoed this call for improvement, describing BS 9991:2024 as “a pivotal step forward in fire safety regulation.” The revised standard, to be published by the British Standards Institution on 27 November, includes updates on sprinklers, lifts, classifications for load-bearing structures, and single-stair buildings.
To support compliance, the FIA has launched an online portal to guide contractors on detector selection, commissioning, and other key aspects of the standard. The association emphasised that the updates address modern building complexities and advances in fire safety research.
Misunderstandings About the ‘Golden Thread’
A separate warning came from technology provider KMS Software, which highlighted confusion over implementing the ‘Golden Thread’ of information mandated by post-Grenfell safety reforms.
The Golden Thread, a digital record of building data, is required under new rules to ensure fire safety is maintained throughout a building’s lifecycle. However, many contractors wrongly assume this process begins during construction.
Dr Bola Abisogun, a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, clarified that the Golden Thread should start at Planning Gateway One, early in the project’s design phase.
Abisogun also pointed out that outdated data management practices, such as reliance on spreadsheets and siloed information, are no longer viable. “As teams increasingly work remotely, access to real-time project data is essential,” he said.
A Collaborative Effort
The updated BS 9991:2024 standard and the Golden Thread requirements represent significant steps forward in improving fire safety and building management. However, both initiatives demand a collaborative effort across all levels of the construction industry, from project owners to contractors, to ensure proper understanding and implementation.
With enhanced guidance and tools now available, industry groups are urging firms to prioritise compliance and embrace more robust data management practices to meet these evolving standards.
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