Key recommendations from the Grenfell Tower inquiry report are set to be directly implemented in Jersey as part of plans to introduce new fire safety regulations for tall residential buildings.
The Home Affairs Minister today proposed the introduction of Fire Precautions (Tall Residential Buildings) Regulations in Jersey to maintain and improve safety for residents of tall residential buildings.
If approved, the new safety measures would apply to all residential buildings over 11 metres tall with two or more dwellings with communal corridors or stairways.
Jersey currently has 125 buildings that fit the criteria – including privately owned accommodation and social housing – and residents, property managers, and owners are being consulted on the proposed changes before they go to the States Assembly for debate, hoped to take place in early 2026.
Why are the changes being proposed now?
Even though the Grenfell Tower fire in London – which claimed the lives of 72 people –happened almost a decade ago, Jersey has not yet followed England in introducing fire safety regulations.
Instead, following a report published by the UK Government in 2019 in response to the incident and a later public inquiry, the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service worked with property managers and building owners to implement requirements on a voluntary basis.
But the Justice and Home Affairs Department estimated that just 19% of Jersey’s high-rise homes meet the UK fire safety standards, with the rest “at risk of falling behind” if no action is taken.
Moreover, there is no dedicated Jersey fire safety law that requires property owners and managers to assess and maintain fire safety measures on an ongoing basis.
What are the proposed recommendations?
Developed alongside the Jersey Fire and Rescue Service, the proposals include the implementation of self-closing fire doors, smoke control systems, emergency alarm systems, and fire service lifts – which would all be regularly checked and maintained by professionals.
Residents would also be required to receive clear fire safety information in a secure facility, so that emergency crews can have better access to building floor plans and emergency exit signposting.
The fire service would then administer inspections of all relevant buildings and enforce any deficiencies.
Property owners and managers would be responsible for any financial implications of new regulations whenever they come into force.
The regulations will also include a provision which allows the fire and rescue service to require improvements or installation of key firefighting equipment in tall residential buildings such as smoke control systems and dry risers.
This power is only expected to be used occasionally when existing systems have fallen into disrepair, or when the absence of key firefighting equipment is creating a significant risk to residents and firefighters and no other options exist to reduce the risk.
What do the proposed regulations aim to achieve?
The requirements of the English regulations are designed to ensure three main things in tall residential buildings:
- Key fire safety features such as self-closing fire doors , fire service lifts, dry risers and smoke control systems are regularly checked to ensure they are working effectively, and any issues are quickly resolved
- Residents are provided with adequate information about what to do in the event of a fire and how to look after self-closing fire doors designed to stop the spread of fire.
- The UK fire services have the best possible information about the layout of the building and its surrounds to help them quickly and effectively tackle a fire and bring it under control
Jersey’s proposed regulations will seek to achieve the same three objectives.
What did officials have to say about it?
Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat said: “Creating regulations to implement some of the key building fire safety recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Phase One inquiry report is a logical and sensible step in the light of the inquiry’s findings.”
Fire and Rescue Service commander Jason Masterman added: “As firefighters, our top priority is keeping islanders safe, especially in the places they call home.
“The proposed fire safety regulations for tall residential buildings are a vital step toward that goal.
“They will ensure key safety features, like self-closing fire doors, smoke control systems, and fire service lifts, are regularly checked and maintained.
“Residents will also receive clear fire safety information, and our crews will have access to simple accurate building floor plans and signposting to help them respond more effectively in emergencies.”
The consultation on the proposed changes for owners and residents of high-rise buildings in Jersey opens on Monday 4 August and will close on 12 September.
The consultation document can be viewed on www.gov.je from Monday.