An overview of the repealed Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Measure 2011, its passage through the Senedd and subordinate legislation.
Contents
Overview
The Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Measure 2011 (‘the Measure’) was introduced into the (then) National Assembly for Wales by Ann Jones AM in July 2010, following her campaign to improve fire safety and reduce the incidence of death and injury in residential settings. The Measure introduced new requirements for the inclusion of automatic fire suppression systems (usually referred to as sprinkler systems) into all new and converted residences in Wales. At the time the Measure was introduced, responsibility for building control, including the Building Regulations (the main way in which compliance with building standards are ensured) lay with the UK Government. The Measure was therefore the most effective legislative mechanism available to the National Assembly at the time to require fire sprinkler systems in new builds and conversions.
The Measure was passed by the National Assembly for Wales on 16 February 2011 and received Royal Approval on 7 April 2011, following which a period of implementation was put in place to enable the building and housing sectors to prepare for the change of requirements. During that period responsibility for the system of building control was devolved to the Welsh Ministers. Following consultation on implementation of the 2011 Measure, and because the Welsh Ministers were now able to make amendments to the Building Regulations, only section 1 of the 2011 Measure was brought into force. The use of the Building Regulations (and the associated Approved Documents) to ensure automatic fire suppression systems are installed continues to the present day.
The Measure was subsequently repealed by the Legislation (Procedure, Publication and Repeals) (Wales) Act 2025, Sch. 1, para 26 on legislation.gov.uk.
Read the full measure:
Coming into force
The following Orders were made:
The Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Measure 2011 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2013 on legislation.gov.uk
The Measure was repealed on 10 September 2025.
Subordinate legislation made under the Measure
| Title | Citation number | Made date | Coming into force date | Supporting documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Building Regulations &c. (Amendment No. 3) and Domestic Fire Safety (Wales) Regulations 2013 on legislation.gov.uk | 2013 No. 2730 (W. 264) | 22 October 2013 | In accordance with regulation 1(2) | 2013 No. 2730 (W. 264): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales |
| The Domestic Fire Safety (Definition of Residence) (Wales) Order 2013 on legislation.gov.uk | 2013 No. 2723 (W. 261) | 22 October 2013 | 30 April 2014 | E2013 No. 2723 (W. 261): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales |
Consideration of the legislation by the Senedd
The National Assembly for Wales’s Standing Orders (at the time) provided for Assembly Measures to be introduced by backbench Assembly Members where the National Assembly had legislative competence in a policy area. Ann Jones AM was a backbench Assembly Member at the time she introduced the Measure.
More information about the Measure and its passage through the Senedd on senedd.wales.
The Explanatory Memorandum which was prepared by Ann Jones AM:
The Explanatory Notes to the Measure provide detailed commentary on the various provisions:
With regard to repeal of the Measure, see also the Explanatory Notes to the Legislation (Procedure, Publication and Repeals) (Wales) Act 2025 on legislation.gov.uk.