What the FPA’s 2025 manifesto reveals about fire risk in the UK

FPA sets out five key fire safety policies in 2025 manifesto

The Fire Protection Association (FPA) has launched its 2025 policy manifesto outlining five areas of fire safety reform for government and industry.

The manifesto was unveiled at the 2025 Labour Party Conference.

The FPA said the new policy document follows on from its previous campaign and is designed to support safer buildings across the UK.

The policies focus on remediation, competency and construction product regulation, as well as sprinkler protection in schools and the safe transition to net zero.

FPA Chief Executive Dr Gavin Dunn said: “The FPA’s objective is to protect people, property, and the UK environment whilst enabling innovation in the construction and property sectors, without compromising fire safety.”

“The policy positions we will be actively pursuing throughout 2025 are designed to help achieve this.”

“The success of this mission relies on collaboration with government, regulators, and industry, and the FPA stands ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to advance the pragmatic and achievable policies.”

Holding those responsible for unsafe buildings to account

The first policy in the FPA’s manifesto calls for the prosecution of those who have failed to remediate unsafe buildings.

The organisation said enforcement remains one of the most effective means of improving standards in the built environment.

It warned that a lack of visible legal action risks undermining those who have invested in compliance, training and system upgrades.

The FPA explained that until poor performers are penalised, the economic balance will continue to favour non-compliance over responsible practice.

The FPA referenced the collapse of the Beechmere trial as an example of the difficulties faced in achieving successful prosecutions.

It said that while the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has been granted enforcement powers and pledged to “prosecute hard and prosecute early”, evidential challenges remain a barrier to progress.

The organisation said that stronger and more consistent enforcement action would help restore public trust and drive cultural change across the construction and property sectors.

Regulating ongoing competency for fire risk assessors

The second policy aims to regulate the ongoing competency of fire risk assessors.

The FPA said that while accreditation standards such as UKAS and the publication of BS 8674 have raised the bar for qualification, further regulation is needed to ensure continuous professional development.

It explained that maintaining assessor competence through structured learning and oversight would ensure that poor practice is detected and corrected earlier.

The organisation said that long-term quality assurance across the fire risk assessment profession is essential to improving the safety of residential, commercial and public buildings.

The FPA also noted that managing both capacity and competence in the marketplace will be critical, given the increasing demand for assessments under the Building Safety Act.

It said that fire risk assessment is a central part of compliance under the new regulatory regime and that sustained regulation would help ensure its long-term credibility.

Mandating sprinkler systems in new and refurbished schools

The third policy calls for the mandatory installation of sprinkler systems in all new and majorly refurbished schools.

The FPA said that protecting young people and preserving educational infrastructure is essential to community resilience.

It explained that fires in schools have far-reaching social consequences, disrupting education and creating long-term impacts on pupils and families.

Data from Zurich show that school fires affect around 90,000 pupils each year, often during holiday periods when buildings are unoccupied.

The organisation said that although Building Bulletin 100 (BB 100) recommends sprinkler protection in all new schools, the guidance is routinely circumvented in England.

It highlighted that Scotland and Wales already require sprinklers in all new build and fully refurbished schools, and that extending this approach would close a major gap in England’s school safety policy.

The FPA said that fire resilience must be built into the fabric of the UK’s educational estate, not added as a discretionary feature.

Accelerating construction product safety reform

The fourth policy urges the government to accelerate construction product safety reforms and to establish a new regulator.

The FPA said that clear, enforceable standards for the testing and certification of safety-critical products are vital to protect building occupants and ensure system reliability.

It added that the ongoing use of the CE mark and the publication of the Green Paper on Construction Products Reform are positive first steps but do not yet provide the oversight required.

The FPA referenced recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report calling for a new independent authority to regulate construction product safety.

It said the creation of such a body would give greater assurance that products used in UK buildings conform to legislative and technical standards.

The organisation added that reforms must address both system-level safety and individual component compliance to prevent unsafe materials entering the supply chain.

The FPA said that accelerating the introduction of the regulator would help industry prepare for the transition and reduce uncertainty for manufacturers and developers.

Supporting a safe transition to net zero

The fifth policy focuses on supporting the safe transition to net zero through policies and guidance that address new fire risks emerging from low-carbon technologies.

The FPA said that while decarbonisation is essential, it introduces new hazards associated with materials and energy systems.

It cited examples such as lightweight construction methods, high-performance insulation, timber structures and renewable technologies including solar panels, energy storage, and heat pumps.

The organisation explained that these technologies can increase flammability or create new ignition sources that must be managed through appropriate fire safety design.

The FPA added that any building fire carries a direct embodied carbon cost through reconstruction, meaning fire resilience is a core component of sustainability.

It said that ensuring fire safety within low-carbon construction practices supports both climate targets and long-term building resilience.

The FPA urged the government to develop practical guidance and regulatory clarity around the fire risks associated with net zero materials and systems.

Building a safer and more resilient UK

The FPA said that adopting its five proposed policies would improve safety standards, support compliance and enhance the resilience of the UK’s built environment.

It added that each policy is achievable using powers already available to government and regulators.

The organisation said it remains committed to supporting the implementation of these proposals through its research, testing, training and risk management services.

It also confirmed that its RISCAuthority research programme will continue to provide data-driven insights to support evidence-based fire safety reform.

The FPA said that by prioritising fire safety in these five areas, the UK can protect lives, strengthen the economy and create a safer future for all building users.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The FPA’s 2025 policy manifesto is particularly relevant to fire risk assessors, fire engineers, building control officers, regulators and construction professionals.

The proposed regulation of ongoing assessor competency could directly affect accreditation, training, and certification frameworks within the fire safety profession.

Fire protection contractors and system installers involved in education projects may be impacted by a national requirement for sprinkler systems in new and refurbished schools.

Manufacturers, testing laboratories and certification bodies will have a key role in any acceleration of construction product safety reforms.

Environmental and sustainability officers may also need to review how fire resilience aligns with net zero strategies in future building projects.

Public sector facility managers and housing authorities could see greater enforcement activity and liability exposure if prosecutions for unsafe remediation increase.

This article was informed by information from the following source: The Fire Protection Association (FPA)