Fire safety in UK care homes 2025 — 7 key changes explained

In 2025, the UK care sector faces a significant evolution in fire safety regulation. These changes are designed to enhance the protection of vulnerable residents and ensure that care homes are equipped to prevent, detect and respond to fire incidents more effectively.

Here, Thorrun Govind and Matt Coles outline these key regulatory updates and explore how legal teams, fire consultants and fire authority inspectors approach fire safety compliance and risk management in care homes.

1. Mandatory sprinkler systems for new care homes

From 2 March 2025, all newly constructed care homes in the UK must be fitted with automatic sprinkler systems. This requirement applies regardless of the building’s height and is intended to suppress fires at an early stage, reduce the risk of fire spread and provide additional evacuation time for residents with limited mobility or cognitive impairments. 

Legal teams should ensure that planning applications and construction projects meet this requirement. Any failure to do so could result in enforcement action or litigation.

2. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs)

PEEPs are now a central component of fire safety planning in care homes. These personalised plans must be in place for all residents who may need assistance during an evacuation. The plans should be documented, regularly reviewed and integrated into staff training and emergency drills to ensure effective implementation. They must also be tailored to each resident with mobility or cognitive impairment and updated regularly. 

Inadequate PEEPs can expose the care home to significant legal risk. PEEPs should be realistic and executable, especially for residents with complex needs.

Third-party fire consultants can provide impartial assessments and technical guidance. Their role is to bridge the gap between operational practice and regulatory expectations, ensuring that care homes are both compliant and safe.

Consultants can assess whether PEEPs are realistic and executable, especially for residents with complex needs. They may conduct drills or simulations to test the effectiveness of these plans.

3. Transition to European fire testing standards

The Government has announced the withdrawal of the national fire testing standards (BS 476 series) in favour of the European standards (BS EN 13501 series). 

Care home operators should ensure that materials used in refurbishments or new builds meet these updated standards. The goal is to create a more unified and safer approach to fire safety across the care home sector. 

4. Compartmentation & door safety

New guidance under Approved Document B limits fire compartments in care homes to a maximum of ten beds. Additionally, all fire doors must be fitted with self-closing devices to prevent the spread of smoke and flames. These measures are designed to contain fires and protect residents from smoke inhalation, which is a leading cause of fire-related fatalities.

5. Phasing out AFFF fire extinguishers

Due to environmental and health concerns, aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) fire extinguishers have been banned. AFFF is a synthetic-based foam used to extinguish flammable or combustible liquid fuel fires. 

Care homes must replace these with safer alternatives and update fire safety training to reflect the use of new extinguishing agents.

6. Fire authority inspections & enforcement

Fire authority inspectors are responsible for ensuring that care homes meet statutory fire safety obligations. Their inspections are thorough and increasingly data-driven, focusing on both documentation and practical implementation.

Beyond paperwork, inspectors assess whether fire safety is embedded in the daily operations of the care home. This includes observing staff behaviour, checking maintenance logs and evaluating the overall safety culture.

If serious deficiencies are found, inspectors have the authority to issue enforcement notices, restrict admissions or initiate prosecution. Their goal is to protect residents and ensure that care homes are safe environments.

7. Emphasis on documentation & training

Regulatory bodies are placing increased emphasis on the documentation of fire safety measures. Care homes are expected to maintain detailed records of fire alarm tests, staff training, equipment maintenance and evacuation drills. These records should be reviewed annually or whenever significant changes occur in the facility or resident population.

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Fire safety in care homes requires a proactive, multidisciplinary approach. With the 2025 changes now in effect, it’s essential that all stakeholders work together to uphold the highest standards of fire safety.

If you need any help in reviewing your arrangements, our expert health and safety law team can help.

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