The note (available here for download) is a reaction to the introduction of The Building (Repeal of Provisions of Local Acts) Regulations 2012 SI No. 3124 and The Building Regulations &c. (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 2013 SI No. 1959. Coming into force on 9 January 2013, the regulations led to the repeal of certain provisions of certain Local Acts.
The document notes that for fire safety measures incorporated under the Local Act may have been deployed as a trade-off to meet building regulation compliance in certain existing buildings.
For example, a sprinkler system may have been installed to comply with the means-of-escape provision, firefighting access and facilities, boundary conditions and/or fire resisting construction standards.
Against this background the document recommends that a full building survey is conducted and a fire strategy formulated that demonstrates compliance with the fire safety elements of the building regulations prior to the removal, abandonment or decommissioning of any fire safety measure in an existing building.
A satisfactory fire-risk assessment should be also undertaken in compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, according to the document.
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