General information as at October 2026. Not legal advice; check the regulation or ask a competent person.
Building Safety RegulatorBSR
The regulator for higher-risk buildings in England. It registers them, asks for safety case reports and receives mandatory occurrence reports.
LawBuilding Safety Act 2022, Part 2In SAMRISKSafety case
General information as at October 2026. Not legal advice; check the regulation or ask a competent person.
c
Compartmentation
Dividing a building into fire-resisting sections, so a fire is held where it starts long enough for people to escape. Holes for services and propped doors break it.
LawRegulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; Building Regulations 2010, Approved Document BIn SAMRISKAudits
General information as at October 2026. Not legal advice; check the regulation or ask a competent person.
e
Easement
A right over someone else's land, such as a right of way or the right to run a drain or cable across it.
LawLaw of Property Act 1925, section 1; Land Registration Act 2002In SAMRISKBoundaries and title
General information as at October 2026. Not legal advice; check the regulation or ask a competent person.
f
Fire risk assessmentFRA
A review of the fire risks in a building and the measures in place, kept up to date by the responsible person.
LawRegulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, article 9In SAMRISKAudits
General information as at October 2026. Not legal advice; check the regulation or ask a competent person.
Fire door
A door made and certified to hold back fire and smoke for a set time, such as 30 minutes. It only works if it closes fully and its seals and gaps are right.
LawRegulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, regulation 10, for flats over 11 mIn SAMRISKAssets and inspections
General information as at October 2026. Not legal advice; check the regulation or ask a competent person.
g
Golden thread
The information about a higher-risk building that shows it is safe, kept digitally, accurate and up to date, and available to those who need it.
LawBuilding Safety Act 2022, Part 4, and its regulationsIn SAMRISKSafety case
General information as at October 2026. Not legal advice; check the regulation or ask a competent person.
h
Higher-risk buildingHRB
In occupation, a building at least 18 m high or with at least 7 storeys, with at least 2 homes. Height is measured from ground level to the floor of the top storey.
LawBuilding Safety Act 2022, section 65; Higher-Risk Buildings (Descriptions and Supplementary Provisions) Regulations 2023In SAMRISKSafety case
General information as at October 2026. Not legal advice; check the regulation or ask a competent person.
k
Key building informationKBI
Facts about a higher-risk building given to the regulator: its structure, walls, roof, fire and energy systems, and more.
LawHigher-Risk Buildings (Key Building Information etc.) (England) Regulations 2023In SAMRISKDocuments
General information as at October 2026. Not legal advice; check the regulation or ask a competent person.
m
Mandatory occurrence reportMOR
A report to the regulator of a safety occurrence that could cause many deaths or serious injuries. Notice within 10 days of becoming aware, the full report within 10 days of that notice.
General information as at October 2026. Not legal advice; check the regulation or ask a competent person.
Permit to dig
Permission to excavate, given only once buried services are traced, marked and checked on site.
LawHSE guidance HSG47; Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015In SAMRISKBuried services
General information as at October 2026. Not legal advice; check the regulation or ask a competent person.
Personal emergency evacuation planPEEP
A plan for getting a person out safely in an emergency when they cannot do so unaided.
LawRegulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; residential evacuation plan regulations for some blocks of flatsIn SAMRISKSafety case
General information as at October 2026. Not legal advice; check the regulation or ask a competent person.
Principal accountable personPAP
The accountable person for the structure and exterior of a higher-risk building. They register it, prepare the safety case report and run the occurrence reporting system.
LawBuilding Safety Act 2022, section 73In SAMRISKSafety case
General information as at October 2026. Not legal advice; check the regulation or ask a competent person.
r
Responsible person
Whoever controls a non-domestic premises or the common parts of flats, and so carries the fire safety duties there.
LawRegulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, article 3In SAMRISKAudits
General information as at October 2026. Not legal advice; check the regulation or ask a competent person.
s
s211 notice
Six weeks' notice to the council before cutting or felling a tree in a conservation area that has no preservation order.