The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.

The regulations were made on 17 May 2022 under the Fire Safety Order 2005 and came into force on 23 January 2023. They implement recommendations from Phase 1 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Most of the duties apply only to high-rise residential buildings, defined in regulation 3 as buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises that are at least 18m above ground level or have at least seven storeys. Height is measured to the top storey as in Appendix D of Approved Document B, storeys below ground are ignored, and a mezzanine counts if it is at least half the floor area of the largest storey above ground.

Regulation 8 does not set its own sign specification. It defines the markings as identification designed and located in accordance with the guidance in Volume 1 of Approved Document B, and the legislation's footnote points to paragraphs 15.13 to 15.16. In effect, a design guide written for new blocks over 11m became a legal standard for every existing block of 18m or seven storeys and above in England.

So the specification is the ADB one: Floor X signs with lettering of at least 50mm and a floor numeral of at least 75mm, mounted between 1.7m and 2m, with Flats X-Y indicator signs directly beneath and arrows where flats run in more than one direction, all on a contrasting background that reads in low light or torchlight.

The Home Office published a factsheet on regulation 8 in May 2022. It confirms the 18m or seven storey scope, notes that the requirement goes further than the Inquiry recommendation by applying to existing buildings, and states that other existing multi-occupied residential buildings are not required to retrofit, although responsible persons may wish to consider it. It describes itself as a factsheet, not guidance.

These regulations apply in England only. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland handle existing building duties separately. For new buildings, Northern Ireland's Technical Booklet E and Scotland's domestic handbook carry their own floor and flat sign guidance, and Ireland's TGD B covers storey identification in firefighting stairs and lobbies.