New Fire Safety Laws Are Now in Force - Here’s What Building Owners Must Do Next

Here, Simon Sharpe, Head of Building and Operational Safety at POD Management, outlines exactly what this means in practice and where many building owners and managers are still falling short.

Below are the practical steps we recommend building owners take now.

Moving Beyond a Tick-Box Approach

One of the most important messages for building owners is that compliance cannot be treated as a paperwork exercise. These Regulations require a cultural and operational shift.

At their core is a move toward person-centred fire safety. This means understanding the specific needs of residents, particularly those with physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments, and ensuring evacuation strategies reflect real-world circumstances, not generic assumptions.

Producing documents alone is not enough. Plans must be practical, deliverable, and embedded into day-to-day operations.

What the Regulations Require in Practice

Now the Regulations are live, building owners are expected to demonstrate clear and structured progress. This includes:

• Identifying residents who may require evacuation support

• Undertaking person-centred Fire Risk Assessments (PCFRAs)

• Developing Personal Emergency Evacuation Statements (PEESs)

• Embedding evacuation planning into wider fire safety strategies

There is no single fixed deadline for full implementation, but the expectation is that organisations act within a reasonable and practicable timeframe. In reality, that means starting immediately and maintaining momentum.

A delayed response increases the risk of inconsistent delivery, operational pressure, and gaps in compliance. 

Delivering Across Complex Portfolios

For organisations managing multiple buildings, implementation must be approached as a structured programme rather than a one-off project.

This involves prioritising buildings and residents based on risk, maintaining consistency across sites, and ensuring strong oversight at an organisational level. Without this structure, there is a real danger of fragmented approaches that fail to meet regulatory expectations.

The Critical Role of Resident Engagement

A central pillar of the Regulations is resident disclosure. Building owners must identify individuals who may need assistance. However, this relies heavily on residents sharing personal information.

Effective engagement is therefore essential. Communication must be clear, accessible, and consistent, and it must build trust. Residents need to understand why information is being collected, how it will be used, and how it contributes to their safety.

Importantly, this is not a one-off exercise. Resident needs can change, and engagement must be ongoing.

Balancing Safety with Dignity

While the goal is to support vulnerable residents, building owners must also ensure individuals do not feel labelled or stigmatised. A collaborative and respectful approach is key. Evacuation planning should empower residents, giving them confidence that their needs are understood and accounted for, without compromising their dignity.

Data, Documentation and Accountability

Accurate, up-to-date, and secure data sits at the heart of compliance. Many organisations are already discovering that existing resident records are incomplete or outdated. Under the new framework, building owners must ensure that information is regularly reviewed, securely stored, and easily retrievable. Just as importantly, decisions and actions must be clearly documented.

In the event of regulatory scrutiny, or a fire incident, the ability to evidence what has been done, and why, will be critical.

Resourcing and Capability

One of the most common residential building risks is underestimating the level of resource required. Delivering PCFRAs and PEESs across a portfolio takes time, expertise, and coordination.

Property professionals must assess whether they have sufficient trained personnel, clear processes, and the operational capacity to deliver consistently. Without this, even well-intentioned programmes can fall short.

What Good Looks Like

Organisations that are responding well to the new Regulations share common characteristics. They are taking early, proactive action, embedding evacuation planning into wider fire safety strategies and ensuring it is understood by operational teams and deliverable in practice. They are also investing in systems that support consistency, visibility, and accountability.

Ultimately, the new Regulations signal a clear shift toward greater transparency, responsibility, and a stronger focus on resident safety. Those who take a structured, resident-focused approach will be best placed to demonstrate compliance in both principle and practice.

Simon Sharpe, Head of Building and Operational Safety, POD Management