As of 6th April 2026, the landscape of fire safety in the UK has undergone its most significant shift in years. Building on the foundations of the Building Safety Act and previous Fire Safety England Regulations, these new updates introduce stricter enforcement, higher competency requirements, and mandatory digital record-keeping.

At Expyro, we understand that navigating legislative changes can be daunting. This guide breaks down the core changes and explains exactly what you need to do to stay compliant, protect your residents, and safeguard your property assets.

The Big Change: Residential PEEPs are Now Mandatory

The headline change is the legal requirement for Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs).
For buildings at least 18 metres (or 7 storeys) tall, or those over 11 metres with a simultaneous evacuation strategy, “Responsible Persons” now have a legal duty to support residents who cannot self-evacuate. This isn’t just a recommendation anymore—it’s a requirement.

1. For Block Managers

If you manage residential blocks, your workload has increased. You are now required to:

• Identify Vulnerable Residents: Proactively reach out to residents to identify those with mobility, sensory, or cognitive impairments.
• Conduct PCFRAs: You must offer a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment (PCFRA) to every resident identified as needing assistance.
• Record Evacuation Statements: Every agreed plan must be documented in an Emergency Evacuation Statement.
• Digital Integration: This info must be shared with the Fire and Rescue Service (with consent) and kept in a secure, digital format.

2. For Facilities Managers (FM)

For those in FM roles, the focus is on the Building Emergency Evacuation Plan (BEEP).

• Annual Reviews: Your overall building evacuation strategy must now be reviewed every 12 months, or sooner if the building’s layout or occupancy changes.
• Information Boxes: Ensure that your Premises Information Boxes are updated with the latest PEEP/PCFRA data so fire crews can act instantly upon arrival.

3. For Landlords

Landlords are no longer “hands-off.” You are legally responsible for ensuring that your management team or RPs are actually carrying out these assessments.

• Duty of Care: You must ensure residents are aware of their right to a PCFRA.
• Transparent Funding: There are specific rules on how the costs of these safety measures are passed through service charges. Transparency is key to avoiding legal disputes at the First-tier Tribunal.

Understanding the PCFRA

Under the new 6th April 2026 regulations, the PCFRA has become the essential legal foundation for any Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP). It ensures that safety strategies are not just “one-size-fits-all,” but are tailored to the actual needs of the people living in the building.

A PCFRA is the initial assessment—the process of sitting down with a resident to evaluate their specific physical or cognitive needs in the context of the building’s layout. The RPEEP is the resulting plan—the clear, actionable document that tells the resident and the Fire Service exactly how that person will get to safety.

In short: the PCFRA identifies the risk, while the RPEEP provides the rescue strategy.

Under the 2026 regulations, you cannot have a legal RPEEP without first conducting a thorough PCFRA to justify its measures

At Expyro, we conduct these assessments with the technical rigour and sensitivity required to bridge the gap between building compliance and individual resident safety.

Digital Compliance is No Longer Optional

A central pillar of the April 2026 regulations is the Digital Record Mandate. All fire safety assets, from extinguishers and alarms to fire doors and sprinklers, must have a digital “paper trail.”

Paper-based logs are being phased out in favour of digital platforms that allow for real-time reporting. This ensures that if a fire officer visits your premises, you can produce an instant, timestamped history of every maintenance check performed.

Information for Residents

We know that for the residents, the people actually living in these buildings, new regulations can sound like a lot of red tape. But this change is designed specifically for you.

• You Are the Priority: The goal of the 2026 regulations is to ensure that no one is left behind. If you have a disability, a temporary injury, or any condition that makes using the stairs difficult, your building manager must now work with you to create a plan.
• It’s Voluntary: You aren’t forced to participate. You can choose whether or not to have a PCFRA or to share your details with the fire service. However, doing so ensures that fire crews know exactly where you are and how to help you in an emergency.
  Peace of Mind: You should be hearing from your landlord or block manager soon. If you haven’t, you have the right to ask them: “Where is my Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment?”

How Expyro Keeps You Compliant

Navigating the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) Regulations requires a mix of technical knowledge and empathy. At Expyro, we provide the full suite of services mentioned in the new legislation:

• Professional PCFRAs: We conduct person-centred assessments that are sensitive, thorough, and fully compliant with the 2026 standards.
• Digital Compliance Hub: We help Managers and Landlords transition to digital record-keeping (the “Golden Thread”) for all fire safety assets and evacuation plans.
• Remedial Safety Works: From fire door upgrades to installing evacuation signage and equipment.
• Building Strategy Consults: We’ll help you draft and maintain your Building Emergency Evacuation Plans (BEEPs).

Don’t wait for an inspection to find out you’re behind.

The April 6th deadline has passed, and enforcement has begun. Contact Expyro today to ensure your building, your staff, and your residents are safe.

Phone – 01702 746 808
Email – contact@expyro.com