Balcony safety: Information for anyone who owns or operates a residential block

Maintaining protection against falls from height

As there have been tragic fatalities involving falls at height from residential buildings, this information is intended to remind organisations who own and/or operate a residential block of the need to maintain protection against falls from height.   

Incidents of this nature are thankfully rare, and our thoughts are always with the families and friends of those who lost their lives.  

While such incidents are not common, the need to maintain balcony safety arrangements remains.

Ongoing inspection, maintenance and prompt remedial action are essential to protect the safety of residents, visitors and members of the public in and around the building. 

Actions for anyone who owns or operates a residential block

We strongly encourage all those who own and operate residential blocks of whatever height to put in place:  

• Regular inspections: Assess balcony structures, guarding and fixings for structural deflection, concrete spalling or loose handrails. This may need to involve structural specialists. 
• Implement protective control measures: If problems are found, you should consider immediate steps to protect people until repairs can take place, such as limiting access or loading of balconies and cordoning off areas below.
• Updating your safety management systems: This could include documenting assessments, monitoring schedules and remedial works. 
• Support residents to raise issues: Ensure residents have clear communication channels to report defects or safety concerns promptly under your reporting system. 

Call for evidence on Part K Building Regulations

As part of our statutory duty to keep the safety of people and the standard of buildings under review, we are seeking evidence on whether there are any gaps, issues or improvements that could be made to Part K or Approved Document K. 

We encourage you to share relevant evidence, experience or examples through the call for evidence. 

The call for evidence is intended to help us better understand whether existing requirements and guidance remain fit for purpose and where further work, research or clarification may be needed. 

An independent report examining evidence to support potential changes to Approved Document K guidance for general access and utility stairs was also recently published.

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Are your details up to date?

Once your building is registered, you must tell BSR within 14 days of becoming aware of changes to the:

• building summary
• principal accountable person (PAP)
• accountable persons (APs)
• parts of the building each AP or the PAP is accountable for

You must tell BSR within 28 days of becoming aware of any changes to the building’s structure or fire safety information.