FOI release

Public safety, fire access and emergency issues

Case reference FOI2025/01325

Received 24 November 2025

Published 9 February 2026

Request

NGL110126 Title Plan shows rear alleyway that runs at the back of 32 Coleridge Road and behind Derby Avenue N12 8DD (in blue on attached plan). The title deed suggests that the owner of the land is 32 Coleridge Road Bollards (locked) have been erected at the access point to the alleyway Has a fire safety assessment been carried out? Does the London Fire Brigade recognise the alley as rear access? Does the London Fire Brigade consider the locked bollards compliant with emergency access guidance?

Response

Please see the London Fire Brigade's (LFB) below response to your request.

Has a fire safety assessment been carried out?

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) does not hold any records for this address, as it does not carry out Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) for alleyways.

Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) for communal areas, including access alleyways, are conducted by local authorities, housing associations or managing agents.

 

Does the London Fire Brigade recognise the alley as rear access?

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) does not formally recognise, designate, or approve private alleyways as rear fire service access routes.

The Brigade does not maintain records identifying which private access routes form part of the original fire service access provision for individual dwellings.

Fire service access arrangements are determined at the design and construction stage under the building regulations. Guidance on this is provided through Requirement B5 (Access and facilities for the fire service) of the Building Regulations 2010 and Approved Document B, Volume 1 (Dwellings).

Any determination as to whether an alleyway was intended or relied upon as part of the fire service access strategy, would sit with the relevant Building Control body or historic building control records, not the Brigade.

Operationally, fire crews will use the most effective access available at the time of an incident, which may include access from the public highway, side access routes, or rear access where available and suitable.

 

Does the London Fire Brigade consider the locked bollards compliant with emergency access guidance?

Approved Document B does not prohibit the use of security measures, such as gates or bollards. However, where an access route is relied upon to satisfy Requirement B5, including achieving the recommended 45-metre hose distance to all points within a dwelling, the route should be readily available for emergency use.

If a route is intended for fire service access, any restriction, such as locked bollards would not be expected to delay or prevent emergency access.

Arrangements that rely on attendance by a keyholder or the use of non-standard locking systems may be inconsistent with the intent of Requirement B5, where that route is necessary for firefighting operations.

The Brigade does not provide formal certification or approval of the compliance for private bollards or access control measures.

Any assessment of compliance with Building Regulations resides with the relevant Building Control authority.

 

 

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

This is London Fire Brigade's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.