Approved Document B: Fire Safety – Volumes 1 & 2
Approved Documents provide guidance on how to meet the building regulations.
Part B contains guidance on fire safety, including means of escape, fire spread, structural fire protection and fire service access.
First published 7 December 2010.
The Approved Document can be downloaded below, with Volume 1 covering dwellings, including blocks of flats and Volume 2 covering buildings all other types of building covered by the building regulations. Additional guidance can be found at the foot of the page.
Approved Document B: Fire Safety Volume 1: Dwellings.
N.B. These are the most recent amendments to this document that should be used alongside it:
Amendments to the Approved Documents B, Volumes 1 and 2 and the 2019 edition
Previous editions are shown in the MHCLG section below.
Approved Document B: Fire Safety Volume 2: Buildings other than Dwellings
N.B. These are the most recent amendments to this document that should be used alongside it:
Amendments to the Approved Documents B, Volumes 1 and 2 and the 2019 edition
Previous editions are shown in the MHCLG section below.
Additional guidance
MHCLG - recent previous editions
Approved Document B Vol 1 Dwellings 2019 edition
Approved Document B Vol 2 Buildings other than Dwellings 2019 edition
November and December 2018, April 2019 amendments to Approved Documents B, Volume 1 and 2
Approved Document B Vol 2 (2019 edition)
BCA Guidance
BCA Technical Guidance Note 2: Protected Entrance Halls
BCA Technical Guidance Note 8: Smoke Shaft Termination at Roof Level
BCA Technical Guidance Note 9: Fire Doors in Dwellings
BCA Technical Guidance Note 18: Use of Combustible Cladding Materials on Residential Buildings
BCA Technical Guidance Note 23: Means of Escape from Enclosed Private Balconies to Flats
LABC Technical Guidance
Technical guide: Guidance on loft conversions in two-storey houses (being updated)
Technical guide: Guidance on the use of polyurethane foam in fire-resisting applications
Technical guide: Guide to the safe installation of downlighters in dwellings
Technical guide: Guide to the use of fire engineered designs in building projects
Technical guide: Guide to means of escape from existing dwellings with four or more storeys (being updated)
Technical guide: Guide to thatched buildings (The ‘Dorset Model’) new properties and extensions
Technical guide: Building Regulations Fire Safety Procedural Guidance
LABC Member Document
LABC Guidance on Amendments to the Building Regulations
FIA Guidance
FIA Guide to the Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018
BWF Certifire Guidance
BWF Certifire Door Best Practice Guide
Fire Door Safety Week Toolkit