Office pod fire safety in the UK: detection, escape and materials
Office pods are not exempt from UK fire safety law. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, adding an enclosed pod is a change the responsible person must reflect in the fire risk assessment. In practice that means checking four things: alarm audibility inside the pod, detection coverage, clear escape routes and the fire classification of the pod’s materials.
Key takeaways
- The responsible person must review the fire risk assessment after a significant change, and since 1 October 2023 the full assessment must be recorded for all non-domestic premises, whatever their size.
- Sweco’s guidance is that the fire alarm should reach at least 60 dB inside a pod and that pods should keep 500 mm clear of smoke detectors.
- Fully enclosed pods are often treated like inner rooms for escape, so placement and early warning matter.
- Since 2 March 2025, BS EN 13501-1 Euroclasses are the only route for reaction-to-fire classification in Approved Document B.
- Ask suppliers for material classification reports, roof and ceiling details and the pod’s electrical specification before you order.
Who is responsible for fire safety when you add a pod
The “responsible person” under the Fire Safety Order is responsible, which usually means the employer or occupier for their own space and the landlord or managing agent for common areas. If more than one responsible person exists, they must cooperate.
GOV.UK explains that the responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment, review it regularly, put suitable fire safety measures in place and keep them maintained. Article 9 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the assessment to be reviewed if there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates, including changes to the premises. Installing enclosed rooms on an office floor is that kind of change.
The rules tightened in 2023. Under section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, as explained by Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, since 1 October 2023 all responsible persons must record their completed fire risk assessment in full, regardless of business size, and record who carried it out. The maximum fine for some offences rose from £1,000 to an unlimited amount.
The Home Office’s guide Fire safety risk assessment: offices and shops remains the official reference for office premises in England. It does not mention pods specifically, but its method of identifying hazards, people at risk, and the means of warning and escape applies directly.
Fire detection and alarm audibility
People inside a pod must know when the alarm sounds, and the pod must not stop the building’s detectors from working. These are the two detection questions to settle before installation.
Imperial College London’s fire safety department, in its code of practice for meeting pods (2023), requires smoke detection in the room where a pod is located and states that pod users should be aware of an alarm activation, whether by hearing it or by a flashing beacon. Building consultancy Sweco goes further in its guidance note:
- The alarm level inside the pod should reach a minimum of 60 dB, measured during commissioning.
- A clear space of 500 mm is required around smoke detectors, and pods should not encroach on it.
- Where a building has a category L1 alarm system, detection should extend into the pod.
- Enclosed pods with openable ceilings may be treated as open pods for alarm and sprinkler coverage if they have a smoke detector to BS EN 54-7 or a multi-sensor to BS EN 54-31 and the ceiling fails safe open on power loss.
The chart applies Sweco’s 500 mm figure to the heights of pods we supply. If a ceiling-mounted detector sits directly above where a pod will stand, a 2,250 mm pod needs a ceiling height of at least 2,750 mm to keep the clear zone. In lower spaces, move the pod or have the alarm designer relocate the detector.
Perforated pod ceilings
Some pods have perforated roofs so that detectors above can still sense smoke inside. Sweco summarises the BS 5839-1 conditions: perforations must be roughly uniform and make up more than 40% of the surface, each must be at least 10 mm in its smallest dimension, and the ceiling must be no thicker than three times that dimension. If a pod’s roof does not meet these conditions, detection may be needed inside the pod.
Sprinklers and pods with solid roofs
In a sprinklered building, a pod with a solid roof is an obstruction that can stop ceiling sprinklers from reaching the space inside. Your sprinkler designer must decide whether the pod needs its own protection or a roof design that lets water through.
There is no single UK rule that covers every pod. The answer depends on the sprinkler standard the building was designed to, the pod’s size, the roof construction and the distance between the pod and the nearest sprinkler heads. Sweco’s note includes detailed spacing points for designers, and many insurers set their own conditions. Raise the question with your landlord, sprinkler contractor and insurer before ordering, not after delivery.
Electrical components and ignition sources
A pod adds electrical equipment to the floor, usually a fan, LED lighting and sockets, so it should be connected and maintained like any other fixed electrical item. Treat it as part of the building’s electrical safety regime, not as loose furniture.
Plan the power supply before delivery. A pod should be fed from a suitable socket or floor box close to where it stands, installed by a competent electrician, rather than from extension leads trailed across the floor. Keep fan grilles clean so motors do not overheat, include the pod in your periodic electrical inspections, and agree a rule that heaters and other high-load appliances are not used inside. Our guide on office pod power and data covers sockets, cable routes and UK plugs in more detail.
Materials and reaction to fire: BS EN 13501-1
The materials inside and outside a pod should have a known reaction-to-fire classification under BS EN 13501-1. Ask for the classification report for the felt, fabric, panels and board, not a generic statement.
BS EN 13501-1 classifies products from A1 to F. Rockpanel explains that A1 and A2 are considered non-combustible and B to F combustible, with additional classes for smoke (s1 lowest to s3 highest) and flaming droplets (d0, none within the first 5 minutes, to d2). Sweco’s guidance is that pods under 30 m² should have walls and ceilings achieving at least D-s3,d2.
| Classification part | Range | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Main class | A1, A2, B, C, D, E, F | A1 and A2 non-combustible; B to F combustible, with F the lowest |
| Smoke production | s1, s2, s3 | s1 is the lowest smoke growth rate, s3 the highest |
| Flaming droplets | d0, d1, d2 | d0 means no flaming droplets in the first 5 minutes; d2 is the worst |
| Minimum suggested for pods under 30 m² | D-s3,d2 | Sweco’s guidance for pod walls and ceilings |
The national BS 476 test classes are being phased out. Construction Management reports that from 2 March 2025 the BS EN 13501 series became the sole route for reaction-to-fire classification in Approved Document B in England, with fire resistance references to BS 476 withdrawn on 2 September 2029. If a supplier offers only BS 476 results for reaction to fire, ask for EN 13501-1 data.
Escape routes and the inner room question
A pod must not block or narrow an escape route, and a fully enclosed pod is often treated like an inner room, meaning its occupants need early warning so they can leave the surrounding space safely.
Imperial College’s code of practice states that pods should be considered for means of escape in a way similar to inner room situations, positioned to prevent obstructions, and placed so escape widths remain suitable. Sweco adds that you should check whether pods form inner rooms and whether they block the view of fire exit signs.
Practical placement points:
- Keep pods out of corridors, protected routes and the space in front of fire exits.
- Check the swing of the pod door does not reduce an escape route’s width.
- Do not block access to fire extinguishers, call points or the fire alarm panel.
- Avoid placing a pod so that people inside could only escape past the likely seat of a fire, such as a kitchen or printer area.
What to ask your pod supplier
A good supplier answers fire questions with documents, not reassurance. Use this list when comparing quotes, and pass the answers to your fire risk assessor.
- What is the BS EN 13501-1 classification of the felt, fabric, panels and any timber or board, and can you share the classification reports?
- Is the roof solid, perforated or openable, and what are the perforation sizes and roof thickness?
- Can the pod take a smoke detector, sounder or beacon inside, and is there a cable route for it?
- What is the glass specification, and what is the door’s opening direction and clear width?
- What electrical components are fitted, such as fans, lighting and sockets, and how is the pod connected to the building supply?
- What is the pod’s height, and how much clearance above does it need for assembly?
StillPods does not claim certifications for the pods we supply. We share the documentation the manufacturer holds for each model so you and your assessor can check it, and our quality control page explains the checks done before shipping. For acoustic questions such as alarm audibility, see our guide on how soundproof office pods are.
Frequently asked questions
Do office pods need their own smoke detector?
Sometimes. If the pod has a solid roof, sits in a building with an L1 alarm system, or comes within 500 mm of a detector, Sweco’s guidance is to check whether detection must extend into the pod. A perforated or openable roof can avoid the need in some cases.
Do I need to update my fire risk assessment for a pod?
Yes. Article 9 of the Fire Safety Order requires a review when there is a significant change to the premises, and since October 2023 the assessment must be recorded in full.
Can a pod go in a corridor or reception area?
Not in a corridor or escape route. Reception and breakout areas can work if escape widths, exit signs and access to fire equipment remain clear. Your fire risk assessor should confirm the location.
Does a pod need building regulations approval?
It may. Some advisers treat a fully enclosed pod as a material alteration. Our guide on office pods, planning permission and building regulations explains how this works.
Plan a compliant pod installation
Share your floor plan with the positions of detectors, sprinklers and exits, and we will suggest pod models and locations that keep clearances and escape routes clear. Browse our meeting pods and phone booths, then send your plan through our quote request form. Answers to common questions on delivery and documentation are on our FAQ page.
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk – Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, article 9 (accessed October 2026)
- GOV.UK – Fire safety in the workplace: your responsibilities (accessed October 2026)
- GOV.UK (Home Office) – Fire safety risk assessment: offices and shops (accessed October 2026)
- Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service – Building Safety Act 2022 section 156 (accessed October 2026)
- Sweco – Building Regulations guidance for office pods (accessed October 2026)
- Imperial College London – Code of practice: meeting pods (accessed October 2026)
- Construction Management – National classes fire testing standards permanently abolished (accessed October 2026)
- Rockpanel – Understanding reaction to fire (accessed October 2026)