The latest consultation on updates to Approved Document B signals a continued shift towards clearer expectations and more robust design requirements across the built environment.
While many of the proposed changes are incremental, their impact will be felt in how projects are designed, coordinated and evidenced — particularly at Gateway 2.
In this article, we look at what’s being proposed and what it means in practice.
What is included in the 2026 consultation?
The consultation, open from 25 March to 17 June 2026, sets out a number of targeted updates to fire safety guidance, including:
- Clarifications and technical refinements to existing guidance
- Consolidated guidance for work on existing buildings
- A proposed threshold relating to combustible structural elements
- Updates to external wall systems and balconies, including a review of the combustible materials ban
- Recommendations for evacuation lifts in residential buildings above 18m
- Introduction of the term specialised housing, replacing sheltered housing, with updated alarm expectations (minimum LD1)
- New guidance on roofs, including photovoltaic (PV) panels
- Increased fire resistance requirements for open-sided car parks
What these changes mean in practice
While none of these updates represent a fundamental shift in direction, they reinforce a broader trend: greater clarity, but higher expectations.
1. More consistency for existing buildings
The consolidation of guidance should support more consistent decision-making across refurbishment and retrofit projects — an area that has historically required interpretation.
2. Continued focus on external wall systems
External wall design remains a key area of scrutiny. The proposed updates signal that this will continue to evolve, particularly in relation to materials and system performance.
3. Earlier consideration of evacuation strategy
The recommendation for evacuation lifts in taller residential buildings reflects a growing expectation that evacuation is considered more explicitly at design stage.
4. Clearer expectations for specialised housing
The introduction of new terminology, alongside enhanced alarm requirements, will require careful consideration in both design and compliance strategies.
5. Emerging considerations for roofs and PV panels
As sustainability measures become more common, guidance is evolving to reflect the integration of systems such as photovoltaic panels without compromising fire safety.
The wider context: building safety in practice
These proposed changes sit within a broader regulatory environment shaped by the Building Safety Regulator.
Across projects, we are seeing a consistent theme:
- Greater emphasis on coordinated design
- Increased scrutiny of documentation
- A need for clearly evidenced compliance
In this context, regulatory updates are not standalone changes — they reinforce an existing direction of travel.
What this means for Gateway 2
For many projects, the impact of these changes will be most visible at Gateway 2.
Successful submissions are increasingly characterised by:
- Fully coordinated design information
- Alignment between fire strategy and architectural intent
- Clear, well-structured documentation
Projects that address these areas early are significantly better placed to progress without delay.
A practical perspective
At Salus, our experience across live projects suggests that the key challenge is not understanding the guidance — but embedding it early enough in the design process.
While the consultation introduces refinements, the underlying principle remains unchanged:
Well-prepared, well-coordinated projects move more efficiently through the regulatory process.
Next steps
The consultation is open until 17 June 2026, providing an opportunity for industry feedback.
In the meantime, project teams should continue to focus on:
- Early design coordination
- Clear allocation of responsibility
- Robust documentation and audit trails
If you’d like to discuss how these changes may affect your project, our team would be happy to share practical insight based on current delivery experience.