A hugely important decision to improve fire safety standards

Government announces its intention to mandate 2nd staircases in new residential buildings above 18m.

The government has committed to adopt an 18-metre height threshold for second staircases in all new residential buildings following cross-sector calls on this issue. 

Led by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), back in March 2023, we were delighted to join a coalition of expert partners urging the government in a letter to reduce the height threshold for multiple staircases in new residential buildings from 30 metres to 18 metres.

In support, Housing LIN’s CEO, Jeremy Porteus, stated:

“We support the call for a second staircase in new residential buildings over 18m. We believe it will benefit households where there is an older person or someone with a disability occupying and will provide reassurance that there is an alternative means of escape should they need to evacuate their home quickly and safely.”

And good news! Yesterday, the Department for Levelling Up, Homes and Communities announced its Long-term plan for housing (opens new window) and, under ‘building safely’ committed the government “to mandate second staircases in new residential buildings above 18m”. We look forward to supporting RIBA on the implementation of this.

Update March 2024: Updated guidance will call for second staircases in all new buildings over 18 metres from 30 September 2026. You can see the amendments to Fire safety: Approved Document B from the link below.