Fire Safety

Missouri HB 1925 Proposes PFAS Firefighting Foam Ban and Reporting Requirements

Missouri has introduced HB 1925, a bill that would regulate PFAS-containing firefighting foams, require rapid reporting of discharges, and phase out most manufacture and sale of PFAS foams in the state by 1 January 2028. If enacted, manufacturers, airports and large foam users will need to redesign formulations, plan recalls and replacements, and integrate new reporting and contamination controls well before the 2028 cutoff.

18 May 2026, 17:53documents.house.mo.govUnited States

New York Senate Bill S10453 Proposes Expanded PFAS Firefighting Foam Recall And Destruction Rules

New York has introduced Senate Bill S10453 to expand manufacturers’ recall obligations for class B firefighting foams with intentionally added PFAS and tighten rules for the safe destruction of collected PFAS chemicals. If enacted, the bill would force PFAS foam manufacturers to address legacy stock, align destruction methods with environmental oversight, and signal further tightening of PFAS controls in firefighting applications ahead of structural changes taking effect in 2028.

18 May 2026, 17:27nysenate.govUnited States

Wales Enacts Building Safety (Wales) Act 2026

The Building Safety (Wales) Act 2026 has been enacted, creating a comprehensive statutory regime for higher-risk multi-occupancy residential buildings and certain houses in multiple occupation across Wales. As commencement regulations phase in its provisions, owners, landlords and managing agents will need to reassess responsibilities, funding models and remediation plans against new accountable-person duties, risk management requirements, enforcement powers and leaseholder cost protections.

18 May 2026, 13:22legislation.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

UK OPSS Recalls Yaheetech Barrel-Shaped Chair Over Fire Risk

The UK Office for Product Safety and Standards has ordered a recall of specific Yaheetech barrel-shaped chairs sold between January and April 2026 because they fail national flammability requirements and pose a serious fire risk. Retailers and distributors handling this product should remove affected stock from sale, support consumer returns and refunds, and ensure upholstered furniture they place on the UK market complies with furniture fire safety regulations.

16 May 2026, 14:53gov.ukUnited Kingdom

UK OPSS Recalls Yaheetech Velvet Convertible Sofa Bed Over Fire Risk

In May 2026, the UK Office for Product Safety and Standards issued a recall notice for Yaheetech's velvet convertible sofa bed after finding that it posed a serious fire risk under national flammability rules. This enforcement action highlights the need for furniture brands and retailers in Great Britain to verify flammability compliance and documentation for upholstered products to avoid similar recalls, liability exposure and disruption to sales.

16 May 2026, 14:53gov.ukUnited Kingdom

California Assembly Holds AB 2517 Fire Hazard Severity Zones Bill Under Submission

In May 2026 the California Assembly Appropriations Committee held AB 2517 under submission, stalling a bill that would change how wildfire fire hazard severity zones are mapped, reviewed, and designated across the state. For facilities and local agencies in California’s wildland–urban interface, this reduces near-term odds of new mapping-driven obligations while signalling that future reforms to wildfire risk zoning and public engagement may return and should remain on the radar.

16 May 2026, 09:03leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

California SB 1299: State Fire Marshal Fire Suppression Education and Training Safety Act Amended on Second Reading

In May 2026, the California Senate advanced SB 1299, a bill to codify and strengthen State Fire Marshal rules for certifying workers who install, service or safe‑off water‑ and chemical‑based fire suppression systems. If enacted, California fire protection contractors and facility owners would need to ensure only appropriately certified or registered personnel work on fire suppression systems, adjust supervision and training practices, and account for new State Fire Marshal enforcement powers and fees, noting there are still no agent‑specific restrictions such as on PFAS‑based foams.

16 May 2026, 08:57leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

China Approves New National Fire Safety Standards for Vehicles and Equipment

China’s State Administration for Market Regulation has approved and released new national fire safety standards for vehicle fire detection, suspended gas extinguishing devices and urban fire remote monitoring systems in May 2026. These standards will drive manufacturers and operators to update equipment design, testing and monitoring practices in line with unified national specifications, strengthening fire risk prevention and data-driven fire safety oversight.

16 May 2026, 08:55samr.gov.cnChina

Netherlands Sets 1 August 2026 Entry Into Force for Safe New Year’s Eve Act and Consumer Fireworks Ban

The Netherlands has set 1 August 2026 as the entry-into-force date for the Safe New Year’s Eve Act, activating a nationwide ban on consumer fireworks and associated local powers. Fireworks manufacturers, importers, retailers and municipalities now need to prepare for the end of consumer fireworks sales, updated enforcement plans, and the use of exemptions and compensation mechanisms ahead of the 2026/2027 New Year period.

15 May 2026, 17:48zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

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

EU Official Journal Publishes UN Regulation No 118 on Fire Behaviour of Bus Materials

UN Regulation No 118, which sets updated fire behaviour and fuel/lubricant repellency performance requirements for materials and cables used in certain buses and coaches, has entered into force and been consolidated in the EU Official Journal. Bus manufacturers and material and cable suppliers selling into UNECE markets need to ensure their designs, tests and type-approval documentation meet the stricter UN R118 criteria, as recognition of approvals under previous amendment series is being phased out.

15 May 2026, 16:11eur-lex.europa.euEuropean UnionUNECE

UK OPSS Flags Besseto LED Wall Panel Lights as Fire Risk; Amazon Listing Removed

In May 2026, the UK Office for Product Safety and Standards reported that Besseto LED Wall Panel Lights sold via Amazon present a high fire risk and do not comply with UK electrical safety regulations. This enforcement action, including border rejection and online listing removal, signals that importers and marketplaces must rigorously check electrical lighting products for plug, fuse and insulation compliance to avoid similar disruptions and liability.

15 May 2026, 15:08gov.ukUnited Kingdom

UK OPSS Issues Recall for White Plug Adapters Supplied With AirTumble Electric Pumps

In May 2026, the UK Office for Product Safety and Standards announced a serious-risk product recall of white plug adapters supplied with certain AirTumble electric pumps after identifying multiple electrical safety defects. This highlights stricter UK enforcement of electrical equipment and plug safety regulations, signalling that manufacturers and retailers of adapters and similar accessories should verify compliance and be prepared for rapid recall action.

15 May 2026, 15:08gov.ukUnited Kingdom

Netherlands Justice Ministry Issues Enforcement Plan For Safe New Year’s Eve Fireworks Ban

The Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security has issued a comprehensive national enforcement plan detailing how the Safe New Year’s Eve Act’s consumer fireworks ban will be implemented and policed from the 2026/2027 New Year onwards. This signals a clear tightening of surveillance and sanctions on illegal fireworks trade and use, so municipalities, enforcement agencies, and fireworks supply chains should expect more coordinated checks, online monitoring, and cross-border operations as the ban takes effect.

15 May 2026, 15:03zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

New York Assembly Bill A11362 Proposes Fire-Protection Requirements for Retail Lithium-Ion Battery Premises

In May 2026, the New York Assembly introduced Bill A11362 to require specific fire-protection and battery-storage measures at retail and storage premises handling lithium-ion batteries and related micromobility devices. If enacted, retailers and storage operators would have a one-year transition to upgrade fire suppression, monitoring, and storage infrastructure, materially tightening operational risk controls around e-bike and lithium-ion battery fires.

15 May 2026, 13:26assembly.state.ny.usUnited States

China SAMR Publishes 19 National Standards For Green And Intelligent Ships

In May 2026, China's market regulator approved 19 national ship-sector standards on new-energy propulsion, intelligent ship systems, corrosion protection, piping components and firefighting. These standards will shape design and testing expectations for shipbuilders, equipment suppliers and operators adopting methanol fuel and advanced safety technologies in the Chinese market.

15 May 2026, 13:25samr.gov.cnChina

Maryland Exempts School Bus Driver's Seat From Upholstery Fire Block Test

Maryland has enacted SB968 (Chapter 524), effective 1 July 2026, to exempt the driver’s seat of a school bus from the state’s seat upholstery fire-block test requirement while retaining the standard for all passenger seats. This change alters design and procurement obligations for school bus manufacturers and school districts in Maryland, allowing more flexibility for driver seats but preserving stringent fire safety expectations for the rest of the bus interior.

14 May 2026, 18:57mgaleg.maryland.govUnited States

US House Introduces Better Energy Storage and Safety Act (H.R. 8706)

In May 2026, a US House bill (Better Energy Storage and Safety Act, H.R. 8706) was introduced to amend the Energy Act of 2020 and strengthen federal programmes on energy storage system safety, testing, demonstrations, and funding. If enacted, it would direct DOE, NIST and the US Fire Administration to expand safety-focused R&D, standardised testing protocols and stress-testing projects for grid-scale and residential energy storage technologies, signalling tighter future safety expectations for battery and storage system suppliers and operators.

13 May 2026, 19:12govinfo.govUnited States

California AB 2517 on Fire Hazard Severity Zones Placed on Assembly Appropriations Suspense File

In May 2026, California Assembly Bill 2517, which amends Government Code provisions on local fire hazard severity zones, was placed on the Assembly Appropriations Committee suspense file with a hearing set for 14 May. If passed, it would formalise more transparent wildfire-risk mapping, public engagement and ordinance publication, influencing land-use planning, building decisions and risk management for assets in California’s high fire-hazard areas.

12 May 2026, 15:13leginfo.legislature.ca.govUnited States

UK Parliament Introduces Battery Energy Storage Systems Fire Safety Bill

The UK House of Commons has introduced a Private Members’ Bill that would make fire and rescue authorities statutory consultees for planning applications involving battery energy storage systems. If progressed, this would embed specialist fire-safety scrutiny into BESS siting decisions, with implications for project timelines, site design, and risk management for large battery installations.

12 May 2026, 12:51bills.parliament.ukUnited Kingdom