FIRE SAFETY UPDATE (UK HOUSING): PAS 79-2 is retired — meet BS 9792:2025

By Metro PAT FM LTD — London specialists in Fire Risk Assessments, fire door compliance, fire alarm testing, and fire extinguisher testing.

FIRE SAFETY UK UPDATE - PAS 79-2 is retired — meet BS 9792:2025

What changed — in one line

The housing-specific PAS 79-2:2020 has been withdrawn and replaced by the full British Standard BS 9792:2025 – Fire risk assessment. Housing. Code of practice. The new standard came into effect 31 August 2025 and is now the benchmark for residential Fire Risk Assessments across the UK.

Why this matters (especially if you’re a London landlord or property managing agent)

• It’s the new national reference point for housing FRAs: clearer structure, refreshed pro-formas, and updated guidance that reflects post-Grenfell legislation and modern practice. (BSI)

• It formalises the shift away from PAS 79-2: BS 9792 is a full revision and upgrade of PAS 79-2, which BSI confirms was withdrawn on 6 August 2021.

• Non-housing premises are unchanged: for offices, schools, warehouses and other non-domestic buildings, PAS 79-1:2020 remains current. (BSI Knowledge)

BS 9792:2025 — scope at a glance

Applies to: HMOs; purpose-built and converted blocks of flats/maisonettes; specialised housing (e.g., supported/sheltered); student accommodation; and access/common areas serving homes in mixed-use buildings.

Does not apply to: single private dwellings; premises used solely for short-term letting (e.g., entire-flat holiday lets/peer-to-peer); non-domestic premises; residential care homes (these sit with PAS 79-1).

Important relationships:

• External walls: continue to appraise via PAS 9980 (FRAEW) where relevant. (BSI)

• Fire detection & alarm design references include BS 5839-1 (non-domestic) and BS 5839-6 (domestic).

Fire Safety: What’s new (and better)

1. Clarity, structure and documentation BS 9792 introduces a reorganised layout, streamlined commentary and new model pro-formas (Annex A) for documenting FRAs. The PDF includes downloadable/replicable forms for purchasers.

2. Types of housing FRA (Type 1–4)BS 9792 formalises the well-established “Type” approach so you can match assessment intrusiveness and coverage to risk:

3. Type 1 – Common parts only, non-intrusive

4. Type 2 – Common parts only, intrusive (e.g., opening risers/voids)

5. Type 3 – Common parts and sample dwellings, non-intrusive

6. Type 4 – Common parts and sample dwellings, intrusiveThis helps dutyholders commission proportionate surveys. (London Fire Consultants)

7. Person-Centred FRA (PCFRA)Enhanced guidance and a PCFRA pro-forma (Annex E) support residents with specific evacuation needs, ensuring assessments are inclusive and defensible.

8. Alignment with current law & guidance BSI highlights alignment with the latest UK legislation (including the Fire Safety Act 2021 and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022) and complementary use with PAS 9980 for external walls. (BSI)

   
   

Practical implications for duty holders in London

• Specifications & templates: Retire PAS 79-2 templates. Adopt BS 9792 pro-formas and structure for all housing FRAs going forward.

• Selecting the right FRA type: Risk-profile your buildings (height, construction, resident vulnerability, fire history) to commission the correct Type 1–4 survey. Intrusive checks (Type 2/4) may be indicated by defects, refurb history or suspected compartmentation issues. (London Fire Consultants)

• People & competence: BS 9792 emphasises assessor competence and provides a framework and “nine-step” methodology; ensure your provider can evidence competency and follows the standard’s structure.

• External walls: If cladding/external wall risk is relevant, commission a PAS 9980 FRAEW in tandem with the housing FRA. (BSI)

• Interfaces with systems: BS 9792’s normative references include BS 5839-1/-6 (alarms). Your ongoing alarm testing/maintenance and emergency lighting, signage and extinguisher regimes should align with current British Standards so the FRA can benchmark accurately.

Your step-by-step transition plan

1. Take stock List every residential building you manage in London. Note: height/storeys, construction era, resident profile, known defects, last FRA date, and whether any PAS 9980 appraisal exists. (If not, screen for need.)

2. Assign the appropriate FRA Type Use your building risk profile to set Type 1–4. For first-time BS 9792 transitions, many schemes start with Type 1, escalating to Type 2/3/4 based on findings or known concerns. (London Fire Consultants)

3. Update documentation Adopt BS 9792’s Annex A pro-forma (or an equivalent that covers the same content), and embed PCFRA processes for vulnerable residents using Annex E.

4. Integrate with maintenance regimes Ensure your alarm testing (BS 5839-1/-6), extinguisher servicing (BS 5306 series), emergency lighting, and fire door inspection/maintenance regimes feed the FRA evidence base and action plan.

5. Close actions and evidence competence Track remediation to completion with dated records, photos and certificates. Keep competency evidence for your FRA providers and contractors.

6. Plan the review cycle Set periodic reviews at an interval proportionate to risk and following significant change (refurb works, incidents, occupancy changes), in line with BS 9792’s recommendations.

   
   

FAQs we’re hearing this month

Do I need to redo every housing FRA immediately? Not necessarily. But from your next review or new commission, use BS 9792 so your documentation and methodology align with the current code of practice. Where there are material changes or serious concerns, bring assessments forward.

What about our offices and plant rooms? Those non-housing areas are still guided by PAS 79-1:2020 (current), which remains the code of practice for premises other than housing. Mixed-use buildings may require both standards (BS 9792 for housing elements, PAS 79-1 for non-domestic parts). (BSI Knowledge)

We’ve got cladding—does BS 9792 cover it? BS 9792 addresses external walls at a high level but points you to PAS 9980 for detailed FRAEW (external wall) appraisals.

How Metro PAT FM LTD can help (London-wide)

We deliver an end-to-end, standards-aligned compliance programme:

• Fire Risk Assessments (Housing) to BS 9792:2025– Correct Type 1–4 selection and execution– Annex A documentation and PCFRA (Annex E) integration– Action plans that are proportionate and practical

• Fire door compliance– Surveys and remedial programmes for flat entrance and communal door sets, feeding directly into FRA actions and compartmentation strategy.

• Fire alarm testing & maintenance– Routine testing aligned to BS 5839-1 (non-domestic systems) and BS 5839-6 (domestic), so your FRA has reliable evidence and logs.

• Fire extinguisher testing & servicing– Asset registers, servicing schedules and placement review against current guidance—closing out typical FRA findings efficiently.

• External wall coordination– Where indicated, we coordinate PAS 9980 appraisals alongside your FRA cycle for a joined-up risk picture.

Bottom line

• PAS 79-2 is out; BS 9792:2025 is in—and it’s built for the realities of today’s housing sector. (BSI)

• Expect clearer documentation, inclusive resident-focused assessment, and better alignment with UK fire safety law. (BSI)

• For London portfolios, now is the right time to switch your templates, confirm the right Fire risk assessment type, and schedule reviews under the new code.

If you’d like us to migrate your current FRA templates to BS 9792, prioritise your buildings by risk, and slot the surveys into a practical London-centric schedule, get in touch with Metro PAT FM LTD—we’ll make the transition smooth and defensible.

Sources & further reading

• BSI press release: “BS 9792:2025… full revision and formal upgrade of PAS 79-2:2020” and scope/aims (4 Aug 2025). (BSI)

• BS 9792:2025 preview (BSI/ANSI): effective date (31 Aug 2025), supersession of PAS 79-2 (withdrawn 6 Aug 2021), scope/exclusions, Annexes A & E, key references.

• BSI Knowledge – Standard page: BS 9792:2025 overview and applicability. (BSI Knowledge)

• BSI Knowledge – PAS 79-1:2020: confirms current status for non-housing FRAs. (BSI Knowledge)

• Four FRA Types (1–4): outline for commissioning proportionate surveys. (London Fire Consultants)

Metro PAT FM LTD — keeping London compliant and safe, building by building.