The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) have launched a number of consultations seeking views on potential changes to fire safety and higher-risk building work guidance.
The first consultation seeks views on proposed changes to statutory fire safety guidance in Approved Document B, which include updating external wall guidance and recommending the new provision of evacuation lifts. This consultation will close on 17 June, 2026.
A second consultation sets out changes to how Category A and Category B building work is defined, so that documentation requirements better reflect the work’s scale and complexity.
The proposals aim to maintain safety standards while reducing unnecessary administrative burdens for applicants and helping the BSR focus on higher risk and more complex cases, the government has said.
The consultation also asks for feedback on supporting guidance and whether certain types of low-risk work could be suitable for future Competent Person Schemes. This consultation closes on 28 May, 2026.
More details about each consultation can be found at www.gov.uk/government/consultations