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BSI opens consultations on fire safety guidance
Nadine Buddoo CM People Editor
Image: Razzers | Dreamstime.com
The British Standards Institution (BSI) has opened consultations on a draft fire safety standard, as well as a draft publicly available specification (PAS) for fire safety in construction.
The revised standard – BS 750 – covers requirements for underground fire hydrants, which BSI said marks “an important step in responding to Recommendation 40 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report”.
BS 750 aims to help maintain dependable fire hydrant infrastructure that is essential for public safety and effective emergency response across the UK.
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Through a proposed amendment, the revised document aims to improve clarity in definitions and figures to ensure that the measurement of the flow coefficient is clearly described, in line with the Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendation.
The consultation is initially open to existing users of BS 750, with wider engagement across the industry to follow. The document can be found here, and the deadline for input is 13 April 2026.
Anne Hayes, director of sectors and standards development at BSI, said: “The publication of this draft reflects our clear commitment to responding constructively to the findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and supporting safety across the built environment.
“We recognise the importance of actively addressing the Inquiry’s recommendations through the standards-making process. By progressing this amendment to BS 750, we are reinforcing our role as a responsible partner in supporting public safety and strengthening the technical standards that underpin critical fire and rescue infrastructure.”
Fire safety in construction
BSI has also released two drafts of PAS 9970, with the consultation set to close on 18 March 2026.
Public comment is being sought on PAS 9970-1: Fire safety in construction – Organisation and site fire safety – Code of Practice; and PAS 9970-2: Fire safety in construction – Temporary fire detection and fire alarm systems – Specification.
PAS 9970-1 applies to construction work conducted on sites that is scheduled to last longer than 30 working days and employ more than 20 people working simultaneously at any point, or is scheduled to exceed 500 working days in total.
It provides recommendations and guidance on strategic fire safety practices for construction contractors. This includes the development and implementation of proportionate fire safety management systems to suitably and sufficiently manage organisational and site-specific fire safety risks.
PAS 9970-2 specifies requirements and performance criteria for life-critical fire detection and fire alarm system products intended to be deployed in temporary installations during construction work.
It is intended for use by manufacturers, suppliers and system specifiers, but might also be relevant to installers and construction site managers responsible for fire safety.
To download, review and comment on the drafts, go to PAS 9970-1 here and PAS 9970-2 here.
The CM March 2026 issue of Construction Management magazine is now available to read in digital format.
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