The two-part version of Approved Document Bcomes into effect on 6 April this year, aiming to improve guidance on firesafety. It will affect all projects where building notices or full plans aresubmitted after 6 April.

Volume 2 requires building designers toformulate realistic fire safety management philosophies/plans as part of thebuilding control process, to enable the first occupants of a building to meetthe requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRFSO), whichcame into effect on 1 October last year.

The necessary fire safety information must bemade available to the 'Responsible Person', as laid down in the RRFSO, when thebuilding is first occupied. This requirement applies to all non-domesticbuildings, including the common areas of flats and Houses of MultipleOccupation (HMOs).

A supporting document, 'Building Regulations andFire Safety - Procedural Guidance' will be published in due course, but it isnot as yet available.

The amendments to Part B Volume 2 are summarisedon its inside covers. For on-line copies of the amended documents, includingthe inside covers, click here. However, this is a complex document and thechanges summarised in the front covers are in our view rather too light ondetail to give useful guidance.

The new Construction Briefing from TRADAconcentrates, therefore, on explaining the background to certain changes orproviding additional detail on the change itself, without which their fullsignificance is difficult to gauge. TheBriefing also references the relevant paragraphs, diagrams or tables relatingto the changes.

TRADA will produce further guidance for thetimber industry on the possible consequences of the changes to ApprovedDocument B.