What the Latest Research Says About Fire Safety in UK Buildings
Fire safety in the UK remains a very live issue: for building owners, managers, landlords, and indeed everyone who uses a building. A growing body of research—combined with hard data from regulators—paints a picture of progress in some areas, but significant gaps and risks still remain. At Fletcher Risk we believe it’s vital to understand what the evidence is telling us so that you can act with clarity, confidence and foresight.
The Research & Data Snapshot
Here are some of the key findings from the most recent studies and datasets:
According to a recent systematic review of UK building fire safety practices, authors found that research publications have increased since 2004, and the dominant themes fall into technological innovations, behavioural/occupant factors, regulatory/compliance and maintenance/infrastructure limitations. SpringerLink
Within this, the review flagged major challenges: enforcement and compliance issues; legacy systems/designs; occupant behaviour and awareness; maintenance of fire-safety systems; and technological adoption. SpringerLinkThe Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) survey data shows that of 17,391 residential buildings over 11 metres in height owned by registered social landlords in England, 2,657 (about 15 %) were identified as having “life‐critical fire safety defects” related to external wall systems. fia.uk.com+1
Of those, 1,148 (around 43 %) had remediation works underway or completed. fia.uk.comA recent analysis by the RSH of its “fire safety remediation” data indicates that of 17,146 relevant buildings reported, 1,926 were identified with life-critical fire safety defects. Also, over 99.9 % of all relevant buildings (buildings over 11 metres) have had a fire risk assessment carried out. GOV.UK
Research into high-rise residents’ perceptions found that many residents do not feel safe from building fires, and that factors influencing their sense of safety include clarity of management responsibility, visible fire-safety measures, and well-communicated evacuation procedures. National Centre for Social Research
On regulation: the UK government’s update of fire safety rules for blocks of flats in England (especially those 11+ metres or 18+ metres) means more duties for “responsible persons” (and “accountable persons”), clearer guidance on fire doors, escape routes, external wall systems, etc. House of Commons Library+1
What These Findings Tell Us – Key Themes
From the above data and research, several important themes emerge:
1. The scale of legacy risk remains large
Even though much focus is on new builds and high rises, the RSH data shows that older buildings—particularly those over 11 metres in height—still carry life-critical defects, especially in their external wall systems. This suggests that a large number of buildings remain at elevated risk until remediation is complete.
2. Assessment is happening, but remediation is slower
It’s encouraging that almost all buildings in the RSH survey have had a fire risk assessment. However, identification of a problem is one thing — completing remediation is another. With only about 43 % of the defective buildings showing remediation underway/completed (in that set) there is work still to do to translate insight into action.
3. Occupant perceptions matter
Fire safety isn’t only about walls and alarms; how safe people feel in their building matters. The research highlights that clarity of roles, visible management of fire safety, and good communication contribute to sense of safety. For building managers, this means fire safety programmes should include occupant engagement and not just technical fixes.
4. Regulation and responsibilities continue to evolve
The regulatory landscape has changed significantly since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. The rules for blocks of flats (11 metres+, 18 metres+) were upgraded, clearer guidance issued, and the concept of “accountable person” introduced alongside “responsible person”. But as the systematic review shows, regulatory compliance, enforcement and legacy design issues remain persistent challenges. House of Commons Library+1
5. Focus shifting to behaviour, maintenance and technology
The systematic review reveals that beyond structural/fire comp-design and regulation, research is giving increasing weight to occupant behaviour, maintenance regimes, and adoption of new fire safety technologies. That means a good fire-safety strategy for a building must span design, systems, people and process. SpringerLink
What This Means for You (As Responsible Person / Building Manager / Owner)
If you own, manage or occupy a building — especially one with multiple users, communal parts or multiple floors — then the above research has direct implications:
Ensure you identify whether you are the “responsible person” or “accountable person” for fire safety (or both) under current regulations. Don’t assume someone else is in charge simply because they built or occupy the building.
Review your building’s fire risk assessment: when was it last updated? Has anything changed (e.g., building use, occupants, refurbishment, external wall system, fire doors, escape routes)? If findings point to defects, check the remediation plan and progress.
Prioritise visible fire-safety measures and occupant confidence: are alarms working? Are fire doors kept closed and maintained? Are escape routes clear and well-marked? Do occupants (tenants, staff, users) know what to do in an emergency?
For older buildings, particularly mid- or high-rise, be aware of remediation backlog risk. If your building features older or suspect external wall systems, façade materials or compartmentation, factor this into your risk assessment and budget accordingly.
Don’t rely purely on technical compliance: engage occupants, carry out regular maintenance (including of fire doors, alarms, signage, emergency lighting), review behavioural factors (are fire doors propped open? Are there combustible items in escape routes?).
Stay abreast of regulatory changes and guidance: fire-safety law and building-safety responsibilities are evolving (especially for buildings with height or multiple uses). Keeping ahead of risk means staying ahead of regulation.
Why Fletcher Risk Can Help
At Fletcher Risk we specialise in helping organisations like yours — whether landlords, building managers, commercial property owners or community organisations — to navigate the evolving fire safety landscape. We bring:
Expert-led fire risk assessments tailored to UK buildings and aligned with latest research and regulation.
Support in identifying roles and responsibilities (who is the “responsible person”, “accountable person”, tenants, users, etc) so you have clarity, not assumption.
Action plans and ongoing maintenance and review programmes, so you don’t just identify risk — you mitigate it.
Guidance on occupant engagement and behavioural issues, making sure your fire-safety strategy gets buy-in from everyone using the building.
Monitoring of regulatory developments and bespoke advice to help you stay compliant and ahead of risk.
Final Thoughts
Fire safety may sometimes feel like a checklist exercise—but the research shows it’s much more. It’s a strategic asset: the design, maintenance, occupant behaviour and clarity of responsibility all matter. The fact that many UK buildings still carry legacy issues should be a wake-up call, not a cause for alarm.
If you’re responsible for a building (or part of one), now is the time to ask:
“Do I know my obligations? Are our fire-safety systems and processes current? Do our occupants feel safe? Have we addressed the legacy risks?”
A short, proactive review today could avoid much larger problems tomorrow.
If you’d like to discuss your building, carry out or update a fire risk assessment or get help building your action plan, please contact us and we’ll talk you through how we can assist.
The Fletcher Risk Team - 25 October 2025
Disclaimer:
This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, fire-safety requirements may vary depending on your building and local authority. For specific guidance or a formal Fire Risk Assessment, please contact Fletcher Risk or a qualified fire-safety professional.