Recurring concern
Inadequate clarity of fire-safety standards and guidance
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Request correctionFirst reported 3 Jun 2014•Latest report 22 Oct 2025
What this concern includes
Includes deficiencies in explicitly identified fire-safety standards, guidance or regulatory requirements where they fail to clearly define required protections, assessment criteria, implementation expectations or assurance arrangements across a named fire-safety setting or hazard.
Not included
- Excludes failures to implement, maintain or enforce otherwise clear fire-safety requirements where the standards or guidance themselves are not deficient.
- Excludes physical fire hazards or missing fire-safety measures when no deficiency in the clarity, completeness or specificity of the governing standards or guidance is identified.
- Excludes generic regulatory, governance or guidance deficiencies unrelated to fire safety.
- Excludes product, workplace, housing or operational standards unless the assertion explicitly concerns fire-safety requirements or guidance.
- Reports
- 5
- Individual concerns
- 10
- Date range
- 2014–2025
- Stated actions
- 6
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised1
Lack of guidelines specifying required fire escape protections in rehabilitation settings
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Signpost registered providers to fire-safety and environmental-premises guidance through the CQC website.
Stated by Care Quality Commission -
Action
Scope revisions to HTM 05-02 fire-safety guidance for healthcare-premises design.
Stated by NHS England -
Action
Escalate and monitor the development of national guidance on fire-escape protections in rehabilitation settings.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board and NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
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Position
National or local guidance on fire-escape protections is outside the regulatory scope and cannot be directly addressed.
Stated by Care Quality Commission
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Position
Existing guidance and provider risk-assessment arrangements are considered appropriate to manage fire-escape and roof-access risks.
Stated by NHS England -
Position
NHS England is responsible for developing national guidance on fire escape protections in rehabilitation settings.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board and NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board
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Concerns raised5
Lack of clear standards for achieving required fire-safety standards
Lack of clear standards for required fire-safety measures
Reliance on individual research ability to interpret fire-safety requirements
Lack of clear standards for assessing applicable fire-safety measures
Failure to establish relevant fire-safety guidance as minimum standards
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Publish updated fire safety guidance for small paying guest accommodation, including caravans and recommended fire precautions.
Stated by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government -
Action
Enhance the legal status of fire safety guidance under Section 156 of the Building Safety Act.
Stated by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Concerns raised1
Lack of guidance on management and escalation of fire risk in supported accommodation
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Failure to require fire retardant overalls for test track drivers
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
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Position
Existing UK law requiring foreseeable-risk assessment, including fire-retardant overalls, addresses the concern when requirements are implemented and instructions followed.
Stated by Health and Safety Executive
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Position
FIA clothing requirements fall outside HSE’s remit for comment.
Stated by Health and Safety Executive -
Position
Any gap in FIA requirements must be closed by FIA, as the sport’s governing body, to ensure compliance with health and safety law.
Stated by Health and Safety Executive
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Concerns raised2
Fire Diary failing to prioritise fire risk assessment reviews before changes of use or structural alterations
Fire Diary lacking guidance on contacting expert advice about electrical overloading concerns
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Amend the DFRMO Fire Diary to require competent fire-risk assessment advice before premises changes or when assessments may be invalid, and strengthen electrical-overloading guidance.
Stated by Ministry of Defence
Data last updated 7 September 2026