2026 Regulatory Changes: What Specifiers Need to Know

The year ahead is set to be a key milestone for several regulatory changes affecting fire safety, accessibility and building design. Many of the updates directly impact how doorsets, ironmongery, access control, and automation are specified. For specifiers, staying ahead of these changes reduces risk, avoids late-stage redesigns and supports smoother project delivery.

We’re taking a look at the most relevant updates you need to know about and explaining what they mean in practical terms for specification teams.

What’s the second staircase requirement?

From September 2026, all new residential buildings over 18 metres must have two independent escape staircases; this requirement is part of ongoing updates to Approved Document B following the Building Safety reforms. This change will have a large impact on the way building layouts, escape strategies and circulation routes are designed from the earlier stages.

Essentially, more staircases mean increased numbers of fire-rated doors and greater coordination of doorsets, closers, signage and escape hardware. Fire doors along escape routes must be correctly rated, tested and installed as part of the complete system, so early engagement with a specialist supplier helps ensure compliance without the need for redesigns later in the project.

The ongoing shift in fire safety standards

After careful consideration, the industry is continuing to move away from legacy fire testing references and is instead moving towards EN fire classification standards. This means specifiers are now being put under increased scrutiny to evidence correct fire ratings, third-party testing, and fully certified doorset assemblies.

The new standards mean fire doors are no longer assessed in isolation; the whole structure, including the door leaf, frame, ironmongery, seals, and glazing, must work together when tested as a system.

Under the new guidance, incorrect substitutions or incomplete specifications can lead to compliance failures, delays at handover, and costly remedial works. At Lloyd Worrall, our approach focuses on tested, compliant doorset solutions to avoid this issue all together and reduce risk across the project lifecycle.

Taking accessibility standards beyond the minimum

Updates to Approved Document M reinforces the importance of inclusive design across all sectors. This takes accessibility beyond the basics of compliance and considers ease of use, user dignity, and long-term usability for diverse occupants. Doorset specification plays a critical role in meeting these new standards through clear opening widths, low opening forces, appropriate ironmongery such as lever handles, and automatic or assisted door operation where required. Poorly specified hardware can unintentionally create barriers, even in otherwise compliant buildings. Early coordination between doorset, ironmongery and automation avoid conflict later in the design.

Raising the bar in specialist or high-risk environments

Despite there currently being no regulatory change, expectations are increasing for risk-managed environments. This includes care homes, SEN schools, supported living schemes, and healthcare and rehabilitation settings. Anti-ligature and safety-focused ironmongery is being specified more widely across these industries. So, specifiers need to demonstrate risk-based decision-making and appropriate product selection for user profiles to comply with existing guidance and best practices.

Through our work, we continue to support these environments with specialist knowledge and compliant product ranges.

What does this mean for doorset and ironmongery specification?

Regulations increasingly demand a holistic approach to specification, rather than isolated product selection. Because of this, it’s never been more important to consider doorsets as complete assemblies instead of just the door leaf.

The most seemingly insignificant ironmongery choices have a huge impact on fire performance, accessibility, safety, and usability. This means clear documentation, testing evidence, and even technical support after installation are essential parts of the specification. With our BIM-ready objects, we aim to improve this by coordinating schedules and reducing errors that hinder compliance.

We’re here to support compliance for 2026 and beyond

At Lloyd Worrall, we support from the earliest stages with technical guidance from early design through to installation and handover. Our Interspec doorsets are tested and certified to align with current and emerging standards, with our team bringing expertise across ironmongery, access control, automation, and specialist solutions.

No matter what regulatory changes happen this year or beyond, we aim to support specifiers while navigating these changes without adding more complexity. We strive for a partnership-led approach focused on delivering safe, secure and accessible environments.

Stay ahead instead of catching up

Regulatory change isn’t slowing down, and 2026 marks a significant step forward in how fire safety, accessibility, and compliance are approached across the board. For specifiers, engaging early and making informed, compliant choices isn’t just best practice; it’s essential for reducing risk, controlling costs and keeping projects on programme.

With the right technical partner, navigating evolving regulations becomes clearer, more confident, and far more manageable – rather than a looming deadline you want to ignore. We work closely with design teams to translate complex requirements into practical, fully compliant doorset and ironmongery solutions, supporting projects from early design through to delivery and handover.

If you’re reviewing specifications for upcoming projects or want to understand how these changes could affect your designs, speak to Lloyd Worrall’s team today for expert guidance and early-stage support.