Advice note published for fire risk in existing multi-storey residential buildings

Advice note published for fire risk in existing multi-storey residential buildings

An Advice Note has been issued to assist in determining the fire risk posed by external wall systems in existing multi-storey residential buildings.

The Scottish Government publication is designed is to help ensure that people are not placed at undue risk of harm as a result of fire spreading over or within a building’s external wall system.

Part 1 (General Advice) will be of particular interest to those with responsibility for fire safety, such as building owners (including individual flat owners in privately owned/mixed tenure blocks of domestic flats), employers, building managers and others.

Part 2 (Technical Advice) will be of particular interest to those who undertake fire safety risk assessments and appraisals. Only suitably qualified professionals with the right skills, qualifications, experience, knowledge and behaviours should undertake such work.



The Advice Note applies to existing multi-storey residential premises of two or more storeys (including residential premises contained within “mixed-use” buildings), for example:

  • Blocks of domestic flats (including sheltered, extra care and supported flats);
  • Student accommodation (including halls of residence);
  • Hospitals or other premises with overnight patient accommodation;
  • Care homes;
  • Hotels and hostels;
  • Prisons.

‘Determining the fire risk posed by external wall systems in existing multi-storey residential buildings’ is available to download here.


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