Attributed to David Lang-Smith, Sales & Marketing Director UK & Europe, Mackwell, Emergency Lighting Experts

Recent developments to the Building Safety Act 2022, alongside the introduction of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, have outlined significant changes to the UK’s approach to building safety and accountability. These changes have introduced a more stringent framework for ensuring that buildings, particularly those deemed high-risk, undergo appropriate and often overlooked due to funding, remediation. The introduction of remediation orders and a sharper focus on interim fire safety measures ensures that residents are protected while longer-term works are undertaken.

This renewed scrutiny is driving a wave of remediation activity across the country, particularly in residential blocks with already identified safety deficiencies. Since terrible tragedies such as the Grenfell Tower fire, attention has been placed on cladding and structural issues, alongside fire safety measures, such as emergency lighting. In the event of a fire or power outage, emergency lighting plays a primary role in supporting both evacuation and emergency response.

The updated legislation makes it clear that building owners and accountable persons must take full responsibility for the safety systems in place. For contractors, consultants and facilities managers, this presents a growing opportunity to bring existing systems up to standard and deliver new solutions that align with the legal and safety requirements.

The changes in legislation now place clear legal duties on the ‘responsible person’(often building owners or managing agents) to identify, fund, and carry out necessary remedial work to address risks to life in buildings. Specifically, the Building Safety Act introduced Remediation Orders and Remediation Contribution Orders, giving the Building Safety Regulator and the First-tier Tribunal (FTT) the power to enforce remediation of fire safety defects, including inadequate emergency lighting, faulty alarm systems, and other critical safety failings.

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 further supports leaseholders by limiting the financial burden on residents, placing the onus directly on the responsible persons. Failure to follow these legislations can now result in legal penalties, and in extreme cases, criminal liability.

For buildings relying on interim measures such as waking watches, responsible persons can no longer delay action. Waking watches were introduced as a temporary fire safety measure in high-risk buildings, particularly those identified with cladding or fire compartmentation issues. Their incredibly costly but essential role provides on-site fire wardens who monitor the building around the clock and raise the alarm in the event of a fire. While intended as an interim solution, waking watches have faced significant scrutiny due to their astronomical ongoing costs and the inconsistency in effectiveness. As a result, regulatory focus has shifted toward replacing waking watches with more reliable, long-term safety solutions, such as the installation of compliant fire detection and emergency lighting systems.

Regulators are increasingly insisting that interim solutions be replaced with permanent, compliant safety systems. This shift shows that inactivity is no longer tolerated, and proactive, accountable remediation is now legally imperative.

At Mackwell, we know that emergency lighting is the foundation of an effective fire safety strategy. Our systems are designed to perform when it matters most, and with increasing focus on digital monitoring and data-led maintenance, we’re helping clients stay ahead of compliance. Our Automatic Test System (ATS), N-Light, helps clients stay ahead of compliance requirements. It can be easily integrated into existing buildings using our wireless technology, and with our cloud-based platform, users can remotely monitor one or multiple buildings. At Mackwell, we remain committed to delivering the technical support, guidance and high-performance solutions that building safety demands.

Emergency lighting is not a background detail – it’s a life-saving measure. As more buildings come under remediation scrutiny, now is the time to reassess, upgrade and invest in emergency systems that meet today’s expectations and tomorrow’s standards.