The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is changing how it assesses occupied higher-risk buildings (HRBs) in England. Its targeted, risk-based approach focuses on organisations responsible for multi-building portfolios, while providing structured guidance for resident-led Principal Accountable Persons (PAPs). While this shifts how Building Assessment Certificate (BAC) applications are called in and evaluated, statutory duties under the Building Safety Act 2022 remain fully enforceable. PAPs, Accountable Persons, housing associations, commercial landlords, and resident management companies must continuously:
Manage the risks of fire spread and structural failure.
Maintain Mandatory Occurrence Reporting (MOR) arrangements.
Implement and review their Resident Engagement Strategy.
Prepare and update their safety case report.
Keep accurate, verifiable records of fire safety assets, events, faults, and remedial work.
Remain inspection-ready to demonstrate live risk management.
With the BSR’s updated resources rolling out this month (September 2026), duty holders must ensure their operational evidence matches their written policies.
What has the Building Safety Regulator announced?
Following its announcement on 9 July 2026, the BSR has pivoted to a more proportionate, targeted, and risk-based framework.
Since the BAC process commenced in April 2024, the BSR has directed PAPs to apply for certificates covering nearly 2,000 buildings. However, processing times doubled, and during 2026, 66% of applications were refused.
The BSR highlighted that refusals primarily occurred because submissions relied on demonstrating that policies existed on paper, without providing sufficient operational evidence that fire spread and structural safety risks were being managed effectively on-site.
Under the revised framework, the BSR is prioritising applications currently under assessment and targeting new call-ins towards multi-building portfolio owners and sample interventions.
What Is Rolling Out in September 2026?
Starting this month, the BSR is releasing its initial suite of updated operational resources, including:
Simplified Assessment Criteria: Streamlined evaluation metrics focused on outcome-based safety rather than administrative repetition.
Updated Technical Guidance: Clearer definitions of what constitutes a "suitable and sufficient" fire risk assessment and structural safety assessment.
Dedicated Portfolio Points of Contact: Direct channels for PAPs managing large multi-building estates.
Targeted RMC/RTM Support: Guidance tailored for Resident Management Companies and Right to Manage groups.
September 2026 marks the beginning of this updated operational framework, establishing clear standards for continuous safety verification.
Statutory Responsibilities Remain Active
This operational shift does not pause or reduce legal duties under the Building Safety Act 2022 or the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
A Building Assessment Certificate demonstrates that the BSR was satisfied with a building’s safety arrangements at the time of assessment. It does not replace the legal obligation to monitor, maintain, and manage life safety systems continuously.
Actionable Steps for Duty Holders
1. Audit Fire and Life Safety Systems
Review all active and passive protection systems, including fire detection networks, sprinklers, smoke control, emergency lighting, fire doors, and disabled refuge points. Ensure maintenance schedules are fully up to date and that system disablements or recurring faults are immediately visible to facilities teams.
2. Strengthen Digital Asset Records
Fragmented records spread across physical logbooks, spreadsheets, and isolated contractor portals create compliance blind spots. Your digital audit trail must clearly document:
* Asset location and operational status.
* Live testing, servicing, and inspection logs.
* Fault and disablement history.
* Remedial actions taken, including timestamps and responsible personnel.
* Identification of recurring system faults.
3. Verify Safety Case Evidence
Ensure your safety case report relies on live, verifiable data rather than static statements. You must be able to demonstrate how safety incidents are escalated, tracked, and resolved in real time.
4. Conduct an Inspection-Readiness Test
Evaluate how rapidly your team can compile:
* The current Fire Risk Assessment (FRA).
* Real-time fire alarm and life safety system status.
* Maintenance and servicing history.
* Recent fault and disablement logs.
* Outstanding remedial works.
* Mandatory Occurrence Records.
Why real-time fire safety data matters
The BSR’s focus on practical risk management makes manual checks and disconnected data sources a major liability.
Drax Technology connects directly with systems from over 50 fire alarm manufacturers, consolidating alarms, pre-alarms, faults, and disablements into a single platform. This provides PAPs and facilities teams with complete portfolio visibility, automated audit trails, and instant inspection readiness.
Our view
A clearer and more proportionate assessment process should help duty holders understand what the BSR expects. The additional support planned for resident-managed buildings is also welcome.
However, organisations responsible for multiple higher-risk buildings should prepare for greater scrutiny through targeted and sample-based interventions.
The key message remains simple: building safety must be managed continuously and supported by accurate, accessible evidence.
PAPs should audit their systems, close information gaps and ensure they can demonstrate how risks are being managed.
Speak to Drax Technology about improving fire safety visibility and inspection readiness across your buildings.
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