LACORS Housing Fire Safety Guide

LACORS Housing Fire Safety Guide

The LACORS (Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services) Housing Fire Safety Guide (2008) is the definitive industry reference for fire safety in residential properties. It is used by fire authorities, local councils, and housing officers when assessing fire safety standards. Landlords should understand its principles and apply them to their properties.

What is LACORS?

LACORS was the body that coordinated regulatory services across local authorities in England and Wales. Although LACORS itself no longer exists, its Housing Fire Safety Guide remains the authoritative reference document. The full guide is available from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).

The Risk-Based Approach

The LACORS guide uses a risk-based approach to fire safety. The level of protection required depends on the type of property, the number of occupants, and the risk profile. Higher-risk properties (HMOs, multi-storey, shared houses) require more comprehensive measures.

Fire Detection — Required Grades by Property Type

• Single household (owner-occupied or single tenancy): Grade D, LD3 — battery-operated smoke alarms in circulation areas (hallways and landings)
• Small HMO (up to 2 storeys, up to 6 occupants): Grade D, LD2 minimum — mains-powered interlinked alarms in all rooms except bathrooms
• Larger or higher-risk HMO: Grade A, LD2 — full commercial fire alarm system with heat detectors in kitchens, smoke detectors in all other rooms, manual call points, and a central control panel

Means of Escape

• Every habitable room must have a safe means of escape to the outside
• Escape routes must be kept clear at all times — no storage in hallways or on stairs
• Windows in upper-floor rooms may serve as secondary escape — must be openable without a key
• In HMOs, the protected escape route (hallway and staircase) must be enclosed with fire-resisting construction

Fire Doors

• FD30S fire doors required on all habitable rooms opening onto the escape route in HMOs
• Must be self-closing (fitted with a door closer)
• Must not be propped open — use approved hold-open devices linked to the fire alarm if needed
• Check seals and closers regularly

Emergency Lighting

• Required in larger HMOs and properties with complex layouts
• Must illuminate escape routes if mains power fails
• Battery-backed or self-contained luminaires are acceptable in most cases

Firefighting Equipment

• Fire blanket in every kitchen (mandatory in HMOs)
• CO2 or dry powder extinguisher in common parts of HMOs
• Not required in single-household properties but recommended

Landlord Responsibilities

• Carry out a fire risk assessment for all HMOs and properties with common parts
• Review and update the risk assessment annually or after any significant change
• Test smoke alarms at the start of every tenancy
• Maintain all fire safety equipment in working order
• Provide tenants with fire safety information at move-in
• Keep records of all fire safety checks and maintenance

Relationship with HHSRS

Fire is a Category 1 hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Local authorities can serve improvement notices, prohibition orders, and emergency remedial action notices where fire safety is inadequate. The LACORS guide is used as the benchmark when assessing fire safety under HHSRS.

Obtaining the Full Guide

The full LACORS Housing Fire Safety Guide (2008) is available from the National Fire Chiefs Council at nfcc.org.uk. Landlords with HMOs or complex properties should obtain and read the full document.