The proposal includes the key recommendations from the Grenfell Tower phase one inquiry report, and aims to improve the safety of residents, as well as firefighters.
The Fire Precautions (Jersey) Law 1977 is the primary legislation in Jersey. The main mechanism for controlling fire safety risk is for an application to be made for a fire certificate in relation to ‘designated’ premises. This legislation was revised in 2013 to include provisions for residential premises, specifically houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), which were brought into the definition of a ‘designated’ premises. This contrasts with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which repealed the issuing of fire certificates in October 2006, replacing them with a duty that sits with the Responsible Person to risk assess instead.
Despite being a small island, Jersey has a considerable number of tall residential buildings (approximately 140), house more than 8,000 residents which equates to 8% of the total population. To make sure that safety standards are met, the Draft Fire Safety (Tall Residential Buildings (Jersey) Regulations were lodged on 23 December 2025. The States Assembly’s website states:
“Jersey's tall residential buildings are in a different position to the remainder of the UK as presently there is no direct fire safety legislation that applies to them after they are built. Jersey is a significant outlier in this respect. This is a major concern as there is no explicit requirement for tall residential buildings to maintain key fire safety standards.
Additionally, the fire and rescue service currently have insufficient regulatory powers to inspect and where necessary to require improvements to fire safety where deficiencies are identified. This means that Jersey lacks legal safeguards to prevent similar building fire safety issues found at Grenfell Tower from occurring in one of Jersey's buildings.
This is not acceptable and residents have a right to expect better. English buildings are legally required to conduct a fire risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in addition to complying with the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 which focus on the Grenfell Tower inquiry phase 1 recommendations.
Ideally, Jersey's tall residential buildings would be required to mirror the English regime by conducting fire risk assessments in addition to complying with a set of Regulations which implement the Grenfell Tower recommendations. However, it is not practical or realistic to introduce both requirements at this time.
Priority has therefore been given to implementing the relevant Grenfell Tower
enquiry recommendations through a set of Regulations modelled on the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022. This is due to their importance in supporting life safety during a fire and the desire to ensure the inquiry recommendations are implemented in Jersey.
A voluntary scheme has been in place since 2024 to encourage tall residential buildings to follow the English Regulations. This has had a positive impact and increased awareness, with some buildings making good progress and others choosing to wait until the Regulations are finalised before investing in the requirements. Given this preparation, it is an optimum time to introduce the formal Regulations to increase resident and firefighter safety.”
The seven specific requirements of the Draft Regulations are:
- Provide Jersey Fire and Rescue Service with updated floor and building plans to support emergency planning.
- Install a secure information box in an accessible area containing hard copies of plans, and relevant contact details.
- Improve any fire suppression or smoke detection systems identified as needing maintenance.
- Carry out quarterly checks on firefighting lifts, evacuation lifts and firefighting equipment.
- Install high-visibility wayfinding signage on stairway landing and lift lobbies, clearly identifying floor and flat numbers.
- Share fire safety instructions with residents annually, including the importance of working fire doors.
- Check communal fire doors every three months and flat entrance doors every 12 months to make sure that self-closing devices are fitted and working effectively.
On 3rd February 2026, the Assembly voted to approve the Minister’s proposition with 41 votes for, 0 votes against and 0 abstentions.