Conference

UK&I Fire Safety Conference 2026

• 7.5 hours structured CPD

Continuing Professional Development for RICS members

Online

From £135 + VAT

Schedule

Day 1: 30 September 2026 | 08:30 - 13:25 (BST)
Day 2: 01 October 2026 | 08:30 - 13:25 (BST)

Overview

As the fire and building safety landscape continues to evolve, professionals across the built environment are facing increasing pressure to navigate complex regulation, demonstrate competence and make confident decisions in practice. The RICS Fire Safety Conference 2026 brings together leading voices from across the sector to explore the latest regulatory developments, legal risks, emerging standards and practical challenges shaping fire safety today.

This year’s programme focuses on how fire safety responsibilities are being applied across real projects and building lifecycles. Sessions will examine competence and accountability after Grenfell, fire-safe building design, the updated PAS 9980:2026, external wall risk and remediation, recent case law, building safety regulation, the Golden Thread, professional liability, occupied buildings and climate-related fire risk.

Through expert-led presentations and cross-disciplinary discussion, delegates will gain practical insight into how expectations are changing across design, delivery, occupation, compliance and risk management. Whether you are advising clients, managing building safety information, assessing external wall risk, supporting occupied buildings or navigating regulatory duties, this conference will provide valuable CPD and practical knowledge to help build confidence in fire safety practice.

Learning outcomes

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Gain a clear understanding of the latest fire and building safety regulatory developments, enabling more informed decision-making under the Building Safety Act regime and reducing uncertainty in daily practice

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Understand how the updated PAS 9980:2026 is being applied in practice, with practical insight into external wall assessments and remediation approaches that reflect current industry expectations

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Develop a stronger grasp of professional competence, accountability and responsibility in the post-Grenfell landscape, supporting more confident and defensible professional practice

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Take away practical lessons from real-world case studies on design, remediation, building information, avoiding legal exposure and improving fire safety decision-making

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Benefit from cross-disciplinary perspectives shared by surveyors, fire engineers, building control professionals, legal experts, regulators and duty holders

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Learn emerging risks across the built environment, including climate-related fire resilience, technological change and evolving regulatory expectations, enabling better forward planning and risk anticipation

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Build greater confidence in applying regulation, guidance and professional judgement to complex fire safety challenges, improving the quality and defensibility of decisions in practice

Agenda

Time	Session
8:30	Registration and networking.
9:00	Opening Remarks from conference chair. Andrea White IEng FIFireE C.BuildE FCABE CFIOSH, Fire Engineer and Managing Director, AW Fire
9:15	Competence and accountability after Grenfell How expectations around competence, accountability and responsibility have shifted since Grenfell, and what that means in practice for those working across the built environment. Dame Judith Hackitt DBE FREng, Former Chair, Health and Safety Executive (HSE); Chair, Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety
9:35	Break
9:45	Understanding fire-safety building design Fire safety design can follow different routes depending on the building and its constraints. Approved Document B (in England & Wales) and British Standards provide the main framework, while fire engineering is used where projects fall outside standard guidance. This session looks at how these approaches are combined and how design decisions are justified, drawing on recent research to highlight how emerging evidence is shaping design approaches in practice.
10:35	Break
10:45	External wall risk: PAS 9980:2026 update and remediation External wall risks in existing buildings are increasingly driving decisions around remediation and the scope of works. The updated PAS 9980: 2026 is used to assess these risks, alongside requirements under the Fire Safety Act 2021, with findings shaping how issues are prioritised and addressed. David Crowder, Partner, DCCH Experts LLP
11:35	Break
11:45	Fire Safety in the Courts: Recent Case Law and Legal Risk Recent legal developments are shaping how fire safety responsibilities are interpreted and enforced in practice. This session explores key trends in case law and enforcement, highlighting where professionals are being challenged, how accountability is assessed, and what this means for those working across the built environment. Katherine Metcalfe, Partner, Pinsent Masons Neal Anderson, Partner, Pinsent Masons
12:25	Break
12:35	Fire and Building Safety Update Across the UK: Legislation, Policy and Practice Fire and building safety are often associated with higher-risk buildings, but regulatory expectations are evolving more broadly across the UK. With significant legislative developments in England, Scotland, and Wales, this session explores how requirements are changing across different building types and jurisdictions, and what that means for surveyors and property managers.
13:25	Day 1 closing remarks

Time	Session
8:30	Registration and Networking
9:00	Opening Remarks
9:10	Manging building information and aligning with the golden thread Maintaining clear, consistent building information remains a challenge throughout a building’s lifecycle. This discussion evaluates where information breaks down, and why it matters for liability, compliance and safety. Dr Bola Abisogun OBE, Founder & CEO, AI & QS
9:35	Break
9:45	Coordination, professional liability, and accountability in delivery Delivering fire safety on live projects depends on clear roles and solid coordination. Responsibilities can overlap and decisions are often made with incomplete information. The topic provides an opportunity to reflect on common points of failure and how professional accountability can be strengthened.
10:35	Break
10:45	The Building Safety Regulator Approaches to building control applications, safety cases, and BACs are still settling under the Building Safety Regulator. Expectations are becoming clearer, but not always consistent. Join to review how this is experienced across projects and what it means for professionals; and changes to how the BSR now deals with Gateway applications.
11:35	Break
11:45	Managing fire safety in occupied buildings Fire safety responsibilities do not end at completion or handover; they remain with duty holders for the entire life of the building. Over time, common challenges include occupier behaviours, building alterations & maintenance, the deterioration of fire doors and compartmentation, and fire risk assessments and inspection regimes that are not consistently updated or maintained.
12:25	Break
12:35	Climate risk and fire: wildfires, resilience and the urban edge The link between climate change and fire risk is becoming increasingly evident, particularly at the urban edge. The discussion considers the implications for long-term planning and the evolving approach to managing risk across property portfolios in an international perspective, with positive actions available.
13:25	Closing remarks from conference chair and conference end

Conference Chair

Andrea White IEng FIFireE C.BuildE FCABE CFIOSH, Fire Engineer and Managing Director, AW Fire

Confirmed Speakers

Dame Judith Hackitt DBE FREng, Former Chair, Health and Safety Executive (HSE); Chair, Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety
Katherine Metcalfe, Partner, Pinsent Masons
Neal Anderson, Partner, Pinsent Masons
Dr Bola Abisogun OBE, Founder & CEO, AI & QS
David Crowder, Partner, DCCH Experts LLP

2025 Testimonials

“Comprehensive information, guidance and views from industry-leading experts across key aspects of fire safety, providing topical and focused discussion on the current status of relevant matters.”

“I work in building control, so it was valuable to hear the perspectives of engineers and surveyors from associated professions.”

“The presentations were relevant and delivered by experts in their field. I was pleased to see a good mix of contributors in the panel debate, providing a realistic overview.”