Fire Safety Order Changes under Section 156
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is the backbone of fire safety law in most premises, and it does not change often — so when it does, it is worth knowing. Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 amended it, strengthening duties around recording fire risk assessments, the competence of those who help with them, and cooperation between responsible persons. These are the responsible person's duties, not the fire alarm engineer's, but they shape the fire safety context the alarm sits within. This guide gives an orientation.
The central point is that Section 156 amended the Fire Safety Order to require responsible persons to record their fire risk assessment and arrangements, address competence, and cooperate — strengthening the duties around the fire safety the alarm serves.
Who this is for
This is for competent fire alarm engineers who want to understand the legal context of their work. The experience level assumed is competent engineer. Use this as orientation; the duties rest with the responsible person, and the authoritative source is the amended Fire Safety Order and the accompanying guidance. The fire alarm follows BS 5839-1; Section 156 changes the responsible person's obligations.
What Section 156 changed
Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 amended the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, with changes taking effect from 1 October 2023. Broadly, responsible persons must record their fire risk assessment and fire safety arrangements, record the identity of anyone they appoint to help with the assessment, and there are strengthened requirements for cooperation where a building has more than one responsible person. These are refinements to an existing framework rather than a new regime, but they raise the bar on documentation and coordination. The authoritative source is the amended Fire Safety Order and the accompanying guidance, which should be consulted directly.
Recording the assessment
A significant practical change concerns recording. Following the Section 156 changes, responsible persons are required to record their fire risk assessment and fire safety arrangements, regardless of the size or type of premises — a shift from the previous position, where full written recording was not required for all premises. This makes a written record a standard expectation rather than something reserved for larger or more complex premises. For the fire safety of a building, that means the assessment — including how the fire alarm features in it — is more likely to be documented and available. The precise requirements come from the amended Fire Safety Order and its guidance.
Competence and cooperation
Two further themes run through the changes. The first is competence: there are provisions around the competence of those a responsible person appoints to assist with a fire risk assessment, and recording who has been appointed, with some competence-related requirements set to be brought into force later than the October 2023 changes. The intent is that those assisting are competent through appropriate training, experience and knowledge. The second is cooperation: where there is more than one responsible person, there are strengthened requirements to cooperate and coordinate. Both themes aim at a more joined-up, competent approach to fire safety. The exact requirements and timing come from the amended Fire Safety Order and guidance.
How it relates to the fire alarm
For the fire alarm engineer, the changes are context rather than a change to technical work. They are duties of the responsible person around fire risk assessment and cooperation, not fire alarm design, so they do not change how a fire alarm is designed or maintained. But the fire alarm is part of what a fire risk assessment considers, and from field experience, better records and cooperation help the whole fire safety picture — including the alarm — stay coherent, especially in buildings with multiple responsible persons who must now coordinate. The fire alarm follows BS 5839-1; the Section 156 duties rest with the responsible person. Knowing they exist helps an engineer understand why documentation and coordination expectations have risen.
Common points to check
For engineers, the practical points are recognising that fire risk assessments are now expected to be recorded, that competence and cooperation duties have been strengthened, and that these rest with the responsible person. Confirming the fire alarm's information supports a documented assessment is the essential contribution.
When not to rely on this alone
When not to use this article: do not treat it as a statement of the specific duties for a building. Those come from the amended Fire Safety Order and its guidance, applied by the responsible person; where duties are in question, appropriate advice should be taken.
Relevant standards
The fire alarm follows BS 5839-1, a code of practice; the Section 156 changes amended the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 via the Building Safety Act 2022. Separate the legal duties from the recommended methods, verify specifics against the amended Order and guidance, and always work to current editions and current guidance.
Professional disclaimer
This is an educational and workflow resource for competent engineers and does not replace the legislation, the current British Standards, legal advice, or competent judgement. It is orientation only; verify specific duties against the authoritative sources.
Related documentation
Use this with the amended Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Building Safety Act 2022, the GOV.UK guidance and the current BS 5839-1. Keep the fire alarm's information supporting a documented assessment, and direct duty questions to the responsible person.