For many people, fireproofing a house is only something they think about when the need arises – such as when building an extension, converting a loft or garage, or making some home upgrades. Safety aside, building regulations also have much to say on the matter, meaning that if you want to ensure the work you are carrying out on your home complies, you will need to implement certain fire proofing measures.
It isn't just those building new structures or converting parts of their homes into habitable spaces that should pay attention to fireproofing, though – there is plenty homeowners of older properties can do to safeguard both themselves, and their houses.
In this guide, the experts take you through everything you need to know to ensure your home not only complies with all the relevant rules and regulations, but also that it is a safe place to live.
What do the building regulations say about fireproofing a home?
Part B of the building regulations relates to fire safety and details everything anyone making upgrades and changes to their home, as well as building from scratch, needs to know.
Advanced fire risk assessor and approved validator Liam Trott, from Fire Safety & Compliance, explains more. "Fireproofing homes, generally involves two areas with slightly different terms and meanings. In simplified terms, the first is fire resistant construction in areas such as walls, floors, ceilings and even cavities or voids.
"The second is fire classifications, which is about surface spread of flame. Think of construction as stopping the fire passing through the wall to another room or area, and fire classifications as stopping the fire burning on the surface of a wall, like wallpaper on a brick wall – the brick won't burn, but the paper will," he explains.
"The building regulations 2010 expect that these elements are considered as appropriate for each area, based essentially, on life safety risk. For example, what would be expected for a two-storey detached house, will be very different to a four-storey terraced house," continues Liam.
"A two-storey house likely relies on your ability to escape via a bedroom window, with minimal injury risk to the occupant, so fire resistance is less of a worry. However, for a four-storey house, escaping via a window on the top floor would be too dangerous and would likely result in a serious injury or even death from the fall, so the internal route must be suitable so those present can escape.
"This is where adding fire protection becomes essential," he warns. "Beyond escape, the regulations also expect that there is no undue risk to firefighters, or neighbouring properties.
"The building regulations have changed significantly over the years, and there is no requirement to bring an existing building up to a modern standard in line with the building regulations, unless the regulations are triggered due to a renovation which constituted a change of use – known as a 'material change' – or an alteration that may impact life safety, known as a 'material alteration'," adds Liam.
"If you are carrying out works on your home and are unsure if it constitutes a material change or material alteration, you should contact building control at your local authority."
Liam is an Advanced Fire Risk Assessor and Approved Validator, leading a team of competent fire risk assessors to deliver high-quality, compliant fire risk assessments and fire strategy services across a wide range of premises. He is driven by a strong commitment to providing pragmatic, proportionate fire safety advice that is practical, achievable, and focused on saving lives through effective risk reduction. He has a keen interest in heritage and listed premises and regularly works with organisations such as the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, along with dioceses across the West of England and various private owners of Grade I, Grade II, and Grade II* properties. Liam also holds an active role as a Member (MIFireE) with the Institution of Fire Engineers, currently sitting on the CPD Panel, contributing to the ongoing development and maintenance of professional standards within the industry.
Why might you need to think about fireproofing your house?
There are certain home improvements and alterations that trigger the requirement for fireproofing measures to be put into place. If you are carrying out any of the following projects, you will need to comply with Part B of the regs.
- An extension: "Any house extension is a material change and, as such, the building must comply with the building regulations 2010 for many aspects, not just fire safety. In terms of fire safety these are B1-B5 of the building regulations," says Liam Trott.
- Loft conversion: "The most common loft conversion fire regulation requirements are FD30 fire doors on escape routes, intumescent seals and smoke seals, escape windows at minimum sizes, fire-rated insulation and mains powered interlinked smoke alarms," explains Angelo Patrizi, founder of Nuova Home Improvements.
- Garage conversion: Garage conversion building regulations relating to fire state that if your garage is attached to the house, 30 minutes of fire separation will need to be put into place using fire-resistant walls, as well as a self-closing fire door. You will also need to install smoke alarms, linked to your existing system. Additionally, if the room is a bedroom, an escape window meeting minimum size requirements will be needed.
Even if you are not building an extension or creating a new habitable space within your home, there are lots of steps you can take to make your home more fire safe.
"There are so many things people can do in their own homes to improve life safety and help improve their chances of survival – the sky really is the limit. What tends to be the constraint is budget," says Liam Trott.
"Every home would be safer with a full sprinkler system, however not every homeowner can afford to install sprinklers. However, there are lots of other things people can do that are either completely free, or relatively inexpensive, improvements."
With that in mind, here are the top expert-approved ways to improve the fire safety of your home.
Angleo runs Nuova Home Improvements, a hands-on renovation company based in Berkshire, specialising in kitchens, bathrooms, extensions, loft conversions, and full home renovations.
How to fireproof
1. Install fire doors
Never underestimate the power fire doors have in keeping a household safe in the event of a fire – in fact, even if they are not a requirement of the building regulations in your home, they are well worth considering.
"Fire doors are a critical life safety device which have saved countless lives all over the world – I would advise every homeowner to consider the benefit of going above the minimum expected and installing fire doors in their homes as a standard practice," says Liam Trott.
"From a building regulations perspective, there are many reasons why fire doors may be required. In general terms, where escaping through a window is no longer an option and there is only one way out, or where a considerable risk is present, such as a garage, fire resistant separation would be expected as a way to mitigate the additional risk to life," continues Liam. "This will usually involve walls, ceilings, floors and doors along with firestopping and potentially cavity protection too.
"A common scenario that catches a lot of homeowners out is loft conversions, where a new floor is being added to a building, at a height where window escape isn’t realistic anymore," adds Liam.
"The most common way this is resolved is by establishing what is known as a 'protected route' from the top floor to the front door. This would mean all walls, ceilings, floors and doors within that stair core from the loft to the front door are of fire resistant construction."
2. Fit smoke detectors
While those living in older houses might not have to meet the same building regulations criteria as those making material changes and amendments, or building a new house, homeowners should still have at least one smoke alarm on every storey of their home for safety purposes.
"If you do not have smoke detectors in your home, adding these will make a significant difference to your ability to escape a fire," explains Liam Trott. "Simple battery detectors can be purchased from most hardware stores.
"It is worth noting that your local fire and rescue service may install them for free if you meet their criteria, which for some services is households with children under 16, or homes with vulnerable persons, such as the elderly or people with disabilities," advises Liam. "Bear in mind that battery-only smoke detectors would likely not be sufficient if the building regulations apply, such as when self-building.
"Test your smoke alarms regularly – a simple button push once a month to make sure it works is enough in most homes," adds Liam. "Working smoke detectors provide you with the early warning when it counts the most."
Shop smoke detectors
This device is equipped with both photoelectric smoke sensors and electrochemical CO sensors so you will be alerted to dangerous smoke and carbon monoxide levels. It has a built-in 10-year battery and an easy-to-read LED display too.
This bundle features two smoke alarms and one heat detector, all of which come pre-linked, meaning if one is triggered, all alarms sound at once. They come with all the fixtures to fit them and are fully compliance with Scottish and English building regs.
The perfect addition to any smart home safety system, this set of three smoke alarms, with base station, allows you to monitor your home from anywhere, using the X-Sense Home Security app. The base station can support up to 50 devices, including water-leak detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.
3. Keep escape routes clear
This is a simple step that really could make all the difference in the event of an outbreak of fire.
"Keep your escape routes clear and don’t store anything on your stairs, the landings, or corridors," says Liam Trott. "The less that is there to burn, the more chance you have of being able to use the stairs to get out.
"Additionally, keeping routes clear reduces the risk of falls. Think about how much your eyes sting and your throat stings when you get a bit of smoke from a campfire in your face. Now imagine that's your experience through an escape route – you will be disorientated, so make the route safe," he advises.
4. Close all doors before going to bed
Not everyone realises how much simply closing doors can help prevent the spread of fire.
"A closed door could save your life," states Liam Trott. "Generally doors, even internal doors that are not fire doors, will have some basic resistance to fire, even if it is only a few minutes. However, in a fire, where seconds make all the difference, that door being closed may be the only defence in making sure you can get out."
Liam goes on to point out the importance of having a firm escape plan in place too. "Have a clear plan, think about where your family are in your home and how you will get out if there was a fire – being prepared is such a benefit. Think about where your children sleep, where you sleep, how you will reach them, where you will go next and how you will get out."
5. Take a holistic approach to fire safety
Rather than thinking in terms of individual fixtures and fittings within your home that could pose a fire risk, according to Liam Trott, it makes more sense to take a whole-house approach.
"Fire risk is unavoidable; buildings are generally safe until people are in them, so thinking of risk as a binary concept per fitting or fixture isn’t practical," explains Liam. "Instead, we should consider the risks and adapt or mitigate where necessary. For example, open fires are only a risk if we are storing items next to them that can burn, overloading them, not cleaning the chimney, or not monitoring it while they're lit.
"Likewise, wall panelling might be a risk if there are significant quantities of it in your escape routes," he continues.
"Any device, system, installation, fitting or fixture, every item present could have some element of fire risk, however if installed correctly, in the right location, and looked after, the risk is managed," says Liam.
"When thinking about installing anything new in the home or bringing in a new device, ask yourself: Could this cause a fire, or could it fuel a fire? If the answer is yes, then as a minimum it probably shouldn’t be in your escape route," he advises.
"If the installation is a regulated device, such as a gas boiler, solar panels, or wood stove, then these must be installed by competent people and in line with the relevant regulations to keep you and your family safe."
6. Turn off appliances and devices when not in use
According to Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, faulty appliances are a leading cause of household fires, with tumble dryers and washing machines accounting for 60 fires a year in Devon and Somerset alone. For this reason, it pays to take this next tip seriously.
"Any device that isn’t essential (such as your fridge), should be turned off when going to bed," says Liam Trott. "Do not charge devices overnight or use tumble-dryers, washing machines, dishwashers and so on. The less electrical fault risk at night, the less likely a fire is to occur while you are asleep."
Not only will this tip help reduce the risk of a fire breaking out in your home, it could also help save you money on your household bills – people are often unaware of how much some vampire devices are costing them.
FAQs
Can timber windows and doors be fireproof?
Many people worry that fire doors will ruin the aesthetic of their home, but this is definitely not the case these days – there is now a wide range of stylish options on offer. You need not rule out timber windows and doors either, providing you choose wisely.
Joe Buckley, an expert timber joiner and the founder and director of Heritage Joinery Solutions, explains the importance of choosing fire-safe timber windows and doors with care. "With timber windows and doors, it’s not about making the material itself ‘fireproof’, it’s about how the whole unit performs.
"A fire-safe timber window or door relies on the full system – frame, glazing, seals and installation – working together, not just the surface," explains Joe. "You can improve performance with fire-retardant coatings, paints or varnishes, which help slow the spread of fire, but these need to be applied correctly and maintained over time to remain effective.
"What catches people out is thinking this can be added later," adds Joe. "Fire performance is built into the design, including the glazing, seals and how everything is fitted, and even small changes can affect how the door or window performs under heat."
Joe is the founder and driving force behind Heritage Joinery. He is passionate about preserving the timeless beauty of traditional timber architecture while delivering quality and craftsmanship that stands the test of time. Heritage Joinery are experienced professional window and door joiner, based in Greater Manchester. They specialise in traditional joinery work, from sash window restoration and replacement to period windows and doors.
If you are converting your loft space, there are all kinds of elements to factor in, such as your loft conversion stairs, soundproofing and storage – but one of the most important things to consider is loft conversion fire doors. The choice comes down to more than just aesthetics, so make sure you understand the requirements involved.
