FIRE SAFETY & DISASTER RECOVERY SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS


Stephen Lyon, Head of Design, Engineering & Buildings Safety at Equans UK & Ireland, argues that FMs now play a strategic role, not just in maintenance, but in ensuring safety, sustainability, and compliance across every aspect of building management.


In the years since Grenfell, the term ‘building safety’ has taken on huge significance. With the introduction of the Building Safety Act (BSA), the industry now faces one of the most important regulatory shifts in a generation. While much commentary around the Act focuses on major refurbishment projects, the reality is that it reaches further – into the very heart of facilities management, planned maintenance, responsive repairs, and even the day-to-day activities that take place in occupied buildings.


For facilities managers, this means one thing above all else: building safety compliance is no longer an occasional or large-scale concern. It is an everyday responsibility.


The Building Safety Act places new duties on accountable persons, but it also has practical implications for every FM and maintenance contractor working in high-risk buildings. Even the smallest task can fall under the scope of the Act. Something as simple as drilling a hole into a wall can trigger requirements if it affects the fabric or fire compartmentation of a multi-storey building.


This means FM teams must ensure they are not only following the letter of the law, but also working with knowledgeable, accredited contractors who understand how their work interfaces with fire safety and the ‘golden thread’ of information.


Unlike in a design-and-build project, where documentation is compiled at key gateways, in FM this golden thread must be kept live, with every job, inspection, and intervention logged correctly.


This can feel burdensome, especially when managing large estates, but it is essential. Without this, facilities managers risk not only compliance failures but also the safety of the residents, staff, and visitors they serve.


Put simply: compliance is no longer confined to large capital projects. It must be embedded into everyday FM delivery.


For Equans, fire safety is the defining element of the Building Safety Act. Fire stopping, compartmentation, fire door maintenance, and sprinkler system checks are not optional extras; they are critical measures that keep residents safe and ensure a building remains legally compliant.


Facilities managers, often the first line of defence in ensuring buildings remain safe, need to view these measures as part of a proactive safety culture. This requires not only scheduled inspections and planned maintenance but also a readiness to address emergency works and responsive repairs in a way that prioritises safety from the outset.


The Act places a heavy emphasis on competence. FMs are expected to evidence that the contractors they engage are fully trained, qualified, and aware of their duties under the law.


Building safety is something we are incredibly passionate about within Equans. We have spearheaded a drive for best practice and partnered with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) to develop a BSA Awareness course for built environment professionals. This training equips teams with the knowledge to understand the Act, the scope of its application, and the practical steps needed to remain compliant. Not only is this something we proactively ensure our employees are up to scratch with – it’s a conversation we are pushing industry wide for maximum impact.


For facilities managers, the benefit of this is clear: confidence that every operative – whether replacing a fire door, testing an alarm, or carrying out remedial works – understands the safety-critical nature of their task.


The role of the facilities manager has been evolving for years, and the Building Safety Act accelerates this transformation. Where once FM was viewed primarily as an operational discipline focused on maintenance and repair, it is now a strategic role, at the centre of safety, efficiency, and sustainability.


Today’s FM must think not just about reactive works but about long-term asset performance, including retrofit, sustainability and safety.


Under the BSA, the message is clear: safety is everyone’s business, every day.


By working with competent contractors, embedding compliance into routine maintenance, and embracing their evolving role as strategic custodians of safety, efficiency, and sustainability, FMs can be confident they are not only meeting their legal duties but protecting lives.


www.equans.co.uk 24 | TOMORROW’S FM twitter.com/TomorrowsFM


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