Guides

Compliance, explained plainly.

Practical guides on fire, electrical, water and lift compliance for property managers, facilities directors and duty holders. Written for people who need answers fast, with citations to gov.uk, HSE, NFCC and BSI so you can verify everything.

Fire Safety

Fire Safety Order, doors, alarms, escape routes, enforcement notices.

All fire guides →

Watercolour illustration of a stack of index cards beside a brass door closer

The 10 Most Breached Fire Safety Order Articles

Article 14 generated 11,286 breaches in England in 2026. What each of the ten most breached Fire Safety Order articles needs and the evidence that closes it.

Watercolour illustration of a closed shutter with an official notice beside the door

Prohibition Notice: What Happens Next

A fire prohibition notice takes effect immediately. What it stops, the 21 day appeal window, and how to get the notice lifted without wasting weeks.

Watercolour illustration of a bar chart on a clipboard beside an inspection notepad

15 min readPillar

Fire Safety Enforcement in England: 2026 Data

Prohibition notices rose 27% in a year in England while prosecutions fell. What the new MHCLG fire enforcement statistics mean for duty holders.

Watercolour illustration of a red glazed fire door, extinguisher and fire monitoring panel

How to choose a fire risk assessment company

No licence is needed to sell fire risk assessments in the UK. Twelve checks to run before you appoint one, and the answers that should worry you.

Watercolour illustration of fire rated board sheets and sealing tape

Passive Fire Protection Surveys: Compartmentation Explained

Passive fire protection surveys: when a compartmentation survey is needed, Type 2 and Type 4 assessments, FIRAS, IFC and Q-Mark certification, reports.

Watercolour illustration of a timber fire door with a closer arm

Fire Door Inspection Requirements: Duties and Frequency

Fire door inspection requirements: quarterly and annual checks under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, other premises, competence and records.

Watercolour illustration of a fire extinguisher beside brass scales

Fire Risk Assessment Cost UK: What Drives the Price

Fire risk assessment cost explained for UK duty holders: the drivers by building type and size, what a quote must itemise, and the red flags to reject.

Watercolour illustration of a fire alarm call point on a wall

19 min readPillar

Fire Risk Assessment Requirements UK: Who Needs One

Fire risk assessment requirements explained: who must have one, PAS 79 and Types 1 to 4, assessor competence, review frequency and enforcement.

Watercolour illustration of a sealed notice envelope and desk calendar

Fire Safety Enforcement Notice: The 28-Day Response Plan

Fire safety enforcement notice with 28 days to comply? The day-by-day response sequence, the evidence pack, extension requests and the appeal route.

Life Safety Systems

Emergency lighting, evacuation alert, sprinklers, dry and wet risers.

All life safety guides →

Watercolour illustration of a bulkhead emergency light on a stairwell wall

15 min readPillar

Emergency Lighting Testing Frequency: BS 5266 Explained

Emergency lighting testing frequency under BS 5266-1:2025 and BS EN 50172:2024: daily, monthly and annual tests, 1 or 3 hour duration, logbook rules.

Water Hygiene

Legionella risk, monitoring, sampling, remedial works.

All water guides →

Watercolour illustration of a water plant room with cylinder, pipework and monitoring panel

How to choose a legionella risk assessment company

LCA registration is voluntary and scoped by service category. Twelve checks to run before you appoint a legionella contractor, and what should worry you.

Watercolour illustration of water sample bottles beside a tap

Legionella Testing Frequency for Care Homes: HSG274

Legionella testing frequency for care homes under ACOP L8 and HSG274 Part 2: monthly temperatures, quarterly showerheads, sampling triggers and records.

Watercolour illustration of a copper cylinder and lagged pipework

6 min readPillar

Legionella Risk Assessments: HSG274 & ACOP L8 Guide

How to commission, review and act on a Legionella risk assessment under ACOP L8 and HSG274, control measures, monitoring intervals and remedial routes.

Lift Maintenance

LOLER thorough examinations, service contracts, callout SLAs.

All lift maintenance guides →

Watercolour illustration of a passenger lift landing beside an escalator

Lift maintenance

How to choose a lift maintenance provider

HSE says the person who maintains your lift should not examine it. Twelve checks before you appoint a lift maintenance provider, and what should worry you.

Watercolour illustration of brass lift landing doors

Lift maintenance

Lift Maintenance Contract Comparison: Basic to Premium

Lift maintenance contract comparison using the LEIA LM01 types: what basic, comprehensive and premium contracts include and exclude, KPIs, LG1 tests.

Watercolour illustration of a hydraulic ram and a small goods hoist

Lift maintenance

LOLER vs PUWER for Lifts: Who Does What and When

LOLER vs PUWER for lifts: the six-monthly thorough examination versus routine maintenance, who is competent for each, intervals, reports and records.

Watercolour illustration of a lift traction sheave and ropes

Lift maintenance

6 min readPillar

LOLER Thorough Examinations for Lifts: Duty Holder Guide

Six-monthly LOLER thorough examinations, Reports of Defect, RIDDOR notification and choosing a competent independent examiner under LOLER 1998.

Lift Modernisation

End-of-life replacement, obsolete parts, EN 81-20/50 upgrades.

All lift modernisation guides →

Watercolour illustration of an old brass lift floor indicator dial

Lift modernisation

6 min readPillar

Lift Modernisation Planning: Scope, Cost & Contractor Selection

How to plan a lift modernisation project: obsolescence surveys, EN 81-80 hazard scoring, partial vs full replacement, tender routes and typical timelines.

Electrical Compliance

EICRs, remedial works, fixed wiring inspections.

All electrical guides →

Watercolour illustration of a plug and coiled appliance lead

PAT Testing Requirements for Commercial Premises: The Rules

PAT testing requirements for commercial premises: what the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require, the IET Code 5th edition and HSE intervals.

Watercolour illustration of an electrical test meter and coiled lead

EICR Cost for Commercial Property: Pricing Explained

EICR cost for commercial property: per circuit versus per board pricing, sampling, C1 to C3 codes, and how to keep inspection and remedial costs separate.

Watercolour illustration of a coiled insulation test lead

6 min readPillar

EICR Testing: Frequency, Codes & Remediation Under BS 7671

Electrical Installation Condition Report requirements: legal duties, code classifications (C1/C2/C3/FI), remediation timelines and contractor accreditation.

Compliance (general)

Duty holder responsibilities, procurement, evidence and audits.

All compliance guides →

Watercolour illustration of a purpose-built block of flats seen from the street

Why Purpose-Built Flats Fail Fire Safety Audits

51% of fire safety audits at purpose-built flats of 6 to 9 storeys were unsatisfactory in 2026, the worst rate of any building type in England.

Watercolour illustration of framed accreditation certificates

Contractor Vetting Guide: What Each Accreditation Certifies

Contractor vetting guide: what BAFE, FIA, LCA, LEIA, NICEIC, NAPIT, Gas Safe, REFCOM, SSIP and UKAS actually certify, and how to check each register.

Watercolour illustration of building keys beside a key cabinet

Managing Agent Compliance Obligations: The Full Duty Map

Managing agent compliance obligations: Fire Safety Order Article 5, Building Safety Act accountable persons, 2022 Regulations, section 20, RICS code.

Watercolour illustration of a civic town hall clock tower

Local Authority Estates Compliance Checklist and Duties

Local authority estates compliance checklist: HSE enforcement on council premises, Procurement Act 2023, RSH Safety and Quality Standard, Awaab's Law.

Watercolour illustration of a school hand bell and satchel

School Compliance Checklist: Statutory Duties for Estates

School compliance checklist for England: who the employer is, DfE GEMS duties, fire, asbestos, RAAC, legionella, electrical, gas, lifts, playground checks.

Watercolour illustration of balanced brass scales

Why We Built TICDesk, and Who Backed It

TICDesk is built by DealFlowAgent, which raised $750,000 led by Long Journey Ventures. Why the UK compliance market is too fragmented for building owners to buy from safely.

Watercolour illustration of a care home armchair and walking frame

Care Home Compliance Checklist: Statutory Duties

Care home compliance checklist: fire, water, electrical, gas, lift, asbestos and HVAC duties with frequencies, the regulation and CQC evidence.

Watercolour illustration of a brass hotel luggage trolley

Hotel Compliance Checklist: Statutory Duties and Dates

Hotel compliance checklist: fire risk assessment, alarms, fire doors, PAT, EICR, lifts, water and spa pools, TR19 Grease and F-gas, with frequencies.

Watercolour illustration of a hard hat resting on a document folder

6 min readPillar

UK Compliance Duty Holder Guide: Roles, Evidence & Enforcement

Who is the duty holder, what they must do, the evidence pack that satisfies insurers and enforcing authorities, and how enforcement action escalates.

HVAC

TM44 inspections, F-Gas, ventilation hygiene, plant maintenance.

All hvac guides →

Watercolour illustration of an air conditioning condenser unit

5 min readPillar

TM44 Air Conditioning Inspections: Duty Holder Guide

Who needs a TM44, how often, what a Level 3 or 4 assessor covers, the MEES register, and how to close energy performance recommendations.