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Here's what you need to know
On 30 September 2026, Approved Document B was amended introducing changes for new residential buildings over 18m. This free CPD course explains what is changing, and how it affects fire safety professionals.
What you will learn:
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The purpose and role of the Approved Documents
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The key changes introduced by the 2026 amendments
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The new approach to common stairs in taller blocks of flats
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The new provisions supporting evacuation lifts
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How the changes affect the wider means of escape strategy
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When the amended guidance applies and the transitional arrangements
This course is designed for anyone who wants to understand the forthcoming changes to Approved Document B.
This may include:
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Fire risk assessors
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Fire safety consultants and advisors
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Fire safety inspectors
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Members of the fire and rescue service
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Health and safety professionals
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Building control profressionals
National Safety Academy qualifications are designed to take you on a learning journey. This course is fully online and self-directed, with instant access to the learning materials.
You can navigate through the course content in your learning portal online.
To support your learning, you'll also have access to:
When the need arises to extend a fire alarm system, several key principles must be followed. Firstly,
all new work must comply with the requirements of BS 5839-1:2025, regardless of whether the existing parts of the system were installed to an older standard. Secondly, a
competent person with a thorough understanding of fire alarm system design must assume responsibility for the entire extension project.
It's also important to consider the scale of the extension. If the planned addition is substantial, perhaps similar in size to the original system, it might be more practical and economical to consider installing a
completely new fire alarm system. This is particularly relevant if the existing system is aging or utilises outdated technology.
For addressable or networked systems, careful attention must be paid to cable compatibility. Using incompatible or older cable types to extend circuits can lead to disruptions in communication or even system failures. If the original cable type is no longer available, it might be necessary to undertake the more significant task of rewiring the entire circuit.
Following any extension, recommissioning of the entire system is essential. This process ensures that the new additions haven't negatively impacted the functionality of the existing system. Key aspects of recommissioning include checking the battery capacity to ensure it can still adequately support the expanded system, verifying signal strength in radio-based systems to guarantee reliable communication, and confirming the cause-and-effect programming to ensure the extended system integrates seamlessly with the existing operational logic.
Finally, a formal "Extensions or Modifications" Certificate must be issued and meticulously kept as part of the system's permanent records.
