Building Safety

England Amends Responsible Actors Scheme Building Control Prohibitions and Exceptions

From 1 June 2026, the UK tightens the Building Safety Responsible Actors Scheme by refining the building control prohibitions and exceptions that apply to developers on the prohibitions list and by allowing affected purchasers to seek limited relief. These changes will matter for developers and purchasers involved in higher‑risk residential schemes in England, who should reassess how the revised prohibitions, emergency repair and occupied‑building exemptions, and new purchaser exception affect project phasing, sales and completion risk.

15 May 2026, 16:20legislation.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Louisiana Senate Committee Backs HB 1103 Expanding Industrial Facility Building-Code Exemptions

In May 2026, the Louisiana Senate Commerce Committee reported HB 1103 favourably, advancing a bill to expand state building-code exemptions and pre-empt local permitting for certain inside-the-fence projects at NAICS 334511 industrial facilities. If enacted, this change would reduce local oversight of structural and safety standards for advanced electronics and aerospace manufacturing sites in Louisiana, shifting more responsibility to operators and state-level frameworks.

15 May 2026, 13:27legis.la.govUnited States

Louisiana HB928 Would Expand Fire Marshal Plan Review And Revise Commercial Building Code Fees

Louisiana has introduced HB 928 to tighten commercial building oversight by expanding mandatory state fire marshal plan review, clarifying jurisdiction over life-safety enforcement, and replacing fixed statutory fee tables with capped, rule-based plan review fees for buildings, fuel storage tanks, and fire protection systems. If enacted, owners planning new construction or significant modifications—especially at industrial, commercial, and storage sites—would need to factor in state-level plan approval before permits, higher and more standardised review fees, and stronger fire marshal authority when sequencing projects and budgeting capital works.

11 May 2026, 12:07legis.la.govUnited States

Estonia Adopts Shelter Requirements for Certain Buildings

Estonia has adopted a government regulation defining which buildings must provide shelters and setting requirements for shelters and shelter plans, effective from 1 July 2026. Owners and operators of affected buildings will need to review their facilities and emergency planning so that shelters and shelter documentation comply once the regulation takes effect.

9 May 2026, 19:05riigiteataja.eeEstonia

Iowa Enacts HF 2297 Requiring Passive Radon Mitigation in New Homes

Iowa has enacted House File 2297 to require the state building code to mandate passive radon mitigation systems for all new single- and two-family homes, with the law taking effect on 1 July 2026. This will force residential builders and suppliers in Iowa to integrate radon-resistant design aligned with the 2021 International Residential Code into new projects, raising expectations on indoor air quality and radon risk management.

9 May 2026, 18:52legis.iowa.govUnited States

New Hampshire Senate Advances HB 1555 on State Fire Code Appeals and Enforcement

In May 2026, the New Hampshire Senate advanced HB 1555, a bill that would move appeals of local fire-code decisions to the state fire marshal and give that office statewide authority over building-code alternatives and code modifications. If enacted with a planned effective date of 2 July 2026, this would centralise fire and building code oversight at state level, changing how project sponsors and facility operators in New Hampshire plan designs, seek variances, and manage enforcement risks.

9 May 2026, 14:09gc.nh.govUnited States

UK Parliament Bill Would Raise Guarding Heights and Require 24-Hour Staffing in Multi-Storey Car Parks

The UK Parliament is debating a Private Members’ Bill that would raise guarding heights to 2.7 metres and require 24‑hour on-site staffing in multi-storey car parks in England and Wales. If enacted, this would compel car park owners and developers to plan for substantial structural upgrades, higher operating costs, and new compliance checks for both new builds and existing facilities.

8 May 2026, 06:41publications.parliament.ukUnited Kingdom

Rhode Island Senate Committee Holds Lead Hazard Mitigation Bill S3093 For Further Study

Rhode Island bill S3093, which would tighten lead hazard mitigation and training requirements for renovations of pre-1978 buildings, has been held for further study by a Senate committee as of 30 April 2026. If the proposal advances, contractors and building owners in Rhode Island may face stricter lead inspection, supervision, and training obligations on renovation projects, requiring earlier compliance planning for work on older properties.

6 May 2026, 19:40legiscan.comUnited States

Louisiana Senate Refers HB1103 Expanding Building-Code Exemptions for NAICS 334511 Facilities to Commerce Committee

Louisiana’s HB1103, which would exempt certain NAICS 334511 industrial facilities from most state and local building-code oversight, has advanced to Senate committee following House passage in April 2026. If enacted, the measure could significantly ease permitting and construction requirements for qualifying manufacturing sites in Louisiana, altering facility design, safety oversight, and expansion planning for affected operators.

1 May 2026, 18:10legis.la.govUnited States

Rhode Island Senate S3093 Hearing on Lead Hazard Mitigation for Pre-1978 Renovations

Rhode Island has scheduled Senate Bill S3093, which would tighten lead hazard mitigation requirements for renovations in pre-1978 buildings, for committee hearing on 30 April 2026. If enacted, this would raise compliance duties for renovation projects in older Rhode Island buildings by requiring lead-trained personnel on site and DLT-enforced adherence to existing lead safety standards.

1 May 2026, 18:09webserver.rilegislature.govUnited States

Louisiana HB1103 On Industrial Facility Building Code Exemptions Referred To Senate Commerce Committee

Louisiana legislators are advancing HB1103, which would exempt NAICS 334511 industrial facilities from most state and local building code requirements for construction and improvements inside secured plant boundaries. If enacted, operators of these specialised manufacturing sites would face fewer building-permit and code-compliance obligations for internal projects, changing facility-design governance and oversight in Louisiana.

1 May 2026, 18:04legis.la.govUnited States

Rhode Island Senate S3093 Hearing Scheduled On Lead Hazard Mitigation For Pre-1978 Renovations

In late April 2026, Rhode Island scheduled a committee hearing on Senate Bill S3093, which would tighten lead hazard mitigation requirements for renovation projects in pre-1978 buildings. If adopted, the bill would require certified lead inspectors and supervisors on renovation sites, worker lead training, and Department of Labor and Training enforcement, raising compliance expectations for contractors and property owners working on older Rhode Island buildings.

1 May 2026, 18:03webserver.rilegislature.govUnited States

Welsh Government Updates Building Safety (Wales) Bill Impact Assessments

In April 2026 the Welsh Government updated and highlighted a suite of impact assessments, including an integrated and a children’s rights assessment, for the Building Safety (Wales) Bill. These analyses clarify how the Welsh building safety regime set out in the Bill will affect different groups and policy areas, informing risk and investment decisions while not themselves creating new obligations.

29 Apr 2026, 06:49gov.walesUnited Kingdom

United Kingdom: ADSA Launches Testing Initiative on Automation of Fire-Rated Doors

In April 2026, the Automatic Door Suppliers Association launched a UK-wide industry testing programme to understand how retrofitting automation to timber fire-resisting doors affects their fire performance. The results, expected later in 2026, will underpin new non-binding guidance for engineers and building owners and may shape future standards and compliance expectations for automated fire doors.

28 Apr 2026, 18:12fia.uk.comUnited Kingdom

Netherlands Housing Minister Answers Parliament on Tackling Damp and Mould in Housing

The Dutch housing minister has answered parliamentary questions on damp and mould problems in homes, confirming a national-local programme that prioritises reducing moisture and mould in rental housing, including co-funded independent inspections and an explicit emphasis on landlord responsibility from 2027 onwards. This strengthens policy and enforcement pressure on housing associations and other landlords to invest in maintenance, monitoring, and tenant communication on indoor air quality, even though no new statute is created.

28 Apr 2026, 17:57open.overheid.nlNetherlands

Louisiana HB1103: Industrial Facility Building Code Exemptions Received in Senate

In April 2026, Louisiana’s HB1103 advanced to the Senate, proposing to widen exemptions from state and local building-code regulation for construction and improvement work inside the secured confines of certain industrial facilities. If adopted, manufacturers in NAICS 334511 search, detection, navigation, guidance, aeronautical and nautical system and instrument manufacturing could plan internal capital projects at Louisiana sites with fewer permitting and building-code constraints, altering how EHS and facilities teams manage compliance risk.

28 Apr 2026, 17:43legis.la.govUnited States

California AB 2517 Moves to Appropriations: Fire Hazard Severity Zone Mapping and Transparency

California's AB 2517, now before the Assembly Appropriations Committee, would tighten transparency and timelines around mapping moderate, high and very high fire hazard severity zones, including 180‑day advance publication of draft maps and underlying data, structured stakeholder engagement, and a recurring review requirement from 2030. For organisations with facilities or infrastructure in California wildfire‑prone areas, this would not change underlying building or defensible‑space rules but would raise the importance of monitoring future hazard map revisions and local ordinances that the State Fire Marshal must publish online.

28 Apr 2026, 16:27leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

FIA Updates Fire Engineer Scope of Works for England's Building Safety Regime

From April 2026, the UK Fire Industry Association’s updated Scope of Works for Fire Engineers provides a structured, England-focused template for aligning fire engineering services with Building Safety Act 2022 and Part 2A duties. Adopting the guidance and Fire Engineer’s Responsibility Matrix can help clients, principal designers and contractors evidence competent appointments, clear coordination and robust records under the new building safety regime, even though it remains non-statutory industry best practice.

28 Apr 2026, 11:34fia.uk.comUnited Kingdom

England Building Safety Regulator Clarifies Part 2A Dutyholder and Competence Duties for Fire Sector

England’s building safety regime now embeds formal dutyholder roles and strict competence requirements in Part 2A of the Building Regulations, with official guidance clarifying how clients, designers and contractors – including fire-sector firms – must organise and evidence compliance across all building work. For fire safety businesses this effectively hardwires competence, role clarity and documentation into everyday projects, raising enforcement risk for organisations that cannot demonstrate robust skills, systems and governance around design and installation responsibilities.

25 Apr 2026, 10:50gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Iowa Bill SF 2374 Proposes Adoption of 2023 National Electrical Code With State Amendments

In March 2026, Iowa lawmakers are considering Senate File 2374, which would adopt the 2023 National Electrical Code with state-specific amendments, pre-empt more restrictive local electrical codes, and require cost analyses before future code changes. If enacted, electrical designers, contractors, and facility owners in Iowa would need to adjust GFCI/AFCI protection, receptacle layouts, and ceiling-fan support practices immediately to align with the new state electrical code and anticipate further revisions when the 2026 NEC is adopted.

24 Apr 2026, 15:57legis.iowa.govUnited States