Fresh figures from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) reveal that up to 75% of high-rise residential buildings are falling short of the UK’s latest building safety requirements, raising major concerns across the sector. Of the 1,454 high-risk buildings where owners have submitted their mandatory safety case files, the BSR has reviewed 170 to date. Alarmingly, 125 of these did not meet the required standards. Legal notices have now been served on the owners of non-compliant properties, compelling them to act on serious safety failings. Failures range from inadequate assessments and missing resident engagement strategies, to structural and compartmentation issues requiring significant remedial work. The data was part of the BSR’s first formal performance update, covering the period from late 2023 through early 2025. It also revealed a growing backlog in planning approvals. On average, developers are waiting 36 weeks — or nine months — for Gateway approvals, three times the intended 12-week target. Out of 2,108 applications submitted in that window, only 338 received approval. A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) acknowledged the delays and said recent recruitment and process reforms are starting to improve throughput. The BSR has now surpassed a key milestone, with the number of decisions each month finally exceeding the number of new applications received. Further reforms are underway. The BSR, which was previously part of the HSE, is being restructured into a standalone authority. A dedicated Innovation Unit has also been launched to help accelerate new-build approvals, particularly those that adopt modern construction methods or demonstrate exemplary safety strategies. To strengthen enforcement and technical scrutiny, the regulator is also recruiting experienced engineers and building safety professionals following criticism that previous case reviewers lacked sector-specific knowledge. Baroness Taylor of Bolton, chair of the Industry and Regulators Committee, spoke as part of an ongoing inquiry into the BSR’s performance: “The Committee wants to hear from all stakeholders to find out if the BSR has the skills and resources required to ensure the safety of all buildings and its residents in the process of approving applications for high-rise buildings. This is crucial if the Government is going to achieve its manifesto target of building 1.5 million homes over the next Parliament.” As the BSR moves to ramp up its capabilities and regain industry confidence, the figures underscore the scale of the task ahead in transforming building safety in the UK. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Using fire performance cables which meet and exceed current standards and guidance can only help to improve safety in critical fire safety situations, says leading cable supplier AEI Cables. AEI Cables has been highlighting the importance of following the technical guidance for the selection and installation of cables for Category 3 Control fire performance cables under the revised British Standard BS8519: 2020 Code of Practice. The guidance for Category 3 Control fire performance cables applies to evacuation alarms for the disabled in care homes, emergency voice communications systems and voice alarm systems in relevant buildings including tall buildings, office spaces, hospitals, shopping malls and stadia. Stuart Dover, general manager of AEI Cables, said: “We are seeing quite an increase in demand for Category 3 Control cables and we can only stress that if they meet and exceed all standards requirements this can only help in the interest of safety of property and lives in these critical spaces. “Meeting standards is a minimum requirement but going above and beyond these standards will help firefighters in a real-life fire situation.” The systems powered by these cables – including smoke and heat extraction systems – assist fire services in firefighting and a safe evacuation in the case of life safety. These cables reduce harmful smoke, toxic gases and flame spread in the event of a real fire. AEI Cables’ Firetec Enhanced cabling has been approved and certified by LPCB to BS8519 (Annex B), Category 3 Control in addition to Category 2 Control. The BS Code of Practice under BS8519 contains six categories of cables, three for power cables and three for control cables each covering survival times of 30, 60 or 120 minutes. All AEI Cables’ products are supplied with approvals from independent bodies including BASEC and LPCB. It also holds approvals from organisations including Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail and LUL and works to international standards around the world. For more information see the AEI Cables website, tel 0191 410 3111 or email sales@aeicables.co.uk. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Promat has released a significant update to its renowned Passive Fire Protection Handbook, which offers a go-to resource for best practice in specifying and installing passive fire protection systems across the UK construction sector. The newly revised edition introduces an overhauled section on structural steel protection, aligned with the latest test standards and regulatory requirements. This new content supports contractors, designers and specifiers working to meet the heightened compliance demands introduced under the Building Safety Act. The update reinforces the handbook’s role in promoting best practice and delivering peace of mind as the sector adjusts to tighter safety regulations. In particular, it supports the Golden Thread requirement by providing up-to-date and traceable technical detail on tested systems. The newly updated structural steel section includes information on choosing the correct protective board, performance guidance for specialist steel protection boards including VERMICULUX®-S, PROMATECT®-250 and PROMATECT®-XW, installation guides for 1, 2, 3 and 4-sided encasements, and treatment of complex steel profiles, including cellular beams. The handbook also covers how to calculate the level of protection needed, and guidance on achieving a range of fire resistance from 30 minutes up to 240 minutes. It also highlights the standards that need to be met, such as EN 13381-4 and EN 1363-1. The revised content brings Promat’s technical guidance in line with the latest industry testing and performance criteria. Promat now offers the most comprehensive testing portfolio for structural steel fire protection available in the UK, making the handbook a vital reference for professionals involved in specifying and installing life critical safety. Josh Slack, Commercial Director at Promat, said: “The Passive Fire Protection Handbook is one of the most trusted resources in UK construction. This update takes it to the next level. With the spotlight rightly on building safety, there’s a real desire for absolute clarity, certainty and compliance – and that’s exactly what this updated guidance delivers.  “It gives our customers the confidence they need when specifying structural steel protection, which is especially important as this continues to be a popular construction method.” This structural steel update is part of Promat’s wider commitment to raising standards to support the latest legislation to improve building safety. By offering detailed technical data and real-world application guidance, the handbook helps to ensure that fire protection systems are not only specified correctly, but installed to perform as tested.  Josh added: “For anyone responsible for demonstrating compliance – from principal designers through to contractors and building owners – the handbook provides a reliable, thoroughly tested foundation to work from. It reflects Promat’s role as a proactive partner in the industry’s drive towards safer, more accountable construction.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals