Fire safety
Fire safety in focus: creating safe, compliant environments
Fire safety in care homes has come into sharp focus as enforcement has tightened. Matthew Jones, head of sales – UK & Ireland at Advanced, highlights some of the key areas to consider when it comes to compliance
The recent case of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) prosecuting a ‘Person in Control’ of a care home for serious fire-safety breaches has highlighted what many in the sector already knew – that fire safety in care settings is under increased scrutiny.1
Fire safety in care homes is not
simply a technical requirement – it is a fundamental safeguarding responsibility. In this case, the court found that basic failures, including failure to make a suitable and sufficient fire-risk assessment for the premises, and failure to ensure the premises had adequate general fire precautions, had placed vulnerable residents at unacceptable risk. The sentence resulted in the ‘Person in Control’ receiving: n A three-month sentence suspended for 12 months.
n A fine of £10,000, and a victim surcharge to be decided.
n He was also ordered to pay £33,000 in costs to LFRS.
This case illustrates that enforcement is tightening, expectations are rising, and there is now far less tolerance for complacency. Fire safety in care homes is a legal
requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2025 and the Health and Social Care Act 2008, which is enforced by the regulatory framework of the CQC. Care home owners who fail to meet these legal obligations can face criminal prosecution, unlimited fines, and in the most serious cases, imprisonment. This recent case comes at a pivotal
moment for the care sector. In 2025, new
sprinkler legislation came into force in England, updated British Standards for fire-alarm systems are now embedded, and Fire and Rescue Services are taking a firmer stance on compliance in high-risk residential settings following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Together, these developments mark a turning point in how fire safety in care homes is being regulated, inspected, and enforced.
Challenges Care homes are among the most challenging building types from a fire-safety perspective. Unlike offices, retail buildings, or even hospitals, care homes function as permanent residences for individuals who often cannot respond to emergencies independently. Many residents live with reduced mobility,
February 2026
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com 25
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