New Building Safety Rules in Wales: What’s Changing in 2025

New building regulation changes announced in Wales

The Welsh Government has introduced a set of updates to the Building Regulations. One of the most significant changes is the lowering of the trigger height from 15 metres to 11 metres. If there is a material change in use of the whole building, then work must be carried out to ensure external walls meet updated requirements.

Combustible materials ban now applies to more buildings

The definition of a ‘relevant building’ has been expanded to include hostels, hotels, and boarding houses. This means that the ban on combustible materials in external walls now applies to these types of buildings in Wales.

Updated guidance in Approved Document B

Approved Document B provides guidance on how to meet fire safety requirements. It has now been revised to reflect both the new regulations and industry best practice. Key updates include:

Limits on certain combustible products for residential buildings with a storey between 11 and 18 metres
Mandatory evacuation alert systems
Secure information boxes for all new blocks of flats with a floor at 11 metres or higher
Floor identification and flat wayfinding signage

You can read the full regulations circular on the Welsh Government website.

New Building Safety (Wales) Bill: what to expect

Alongside the regulation changes, a new Building Safety (Wales) Bill has been introduced in the Senedd. It aims to improve safety for residents of multi-occupied buildings. The Bill proposes the following:

Mandatory registration of buildings that are at least 11 metres tall or have at least 5 storeys
New duties to assess and manage fire safety risks for in-scope buildings
Duties to assess and manage structural safety risks in buildings over 11 metres or 5 storeys
New rights and responsibilities for residents of in-scope buildings
An enforcement regime to ensure compliance with these new responsibilities

You can track the progress of the Bill on the Senedd website.