PAS 9970: Consultation Closed – What Happens Next?

The consultation on PAS 9970, led by the British Standards Institution, has now closed (18 March), marking an important milestone for construction fire safety.

If you haven’t followed the process so far, PAS 9970 proposes a new framework for managing fire safety on construction sites – including a detailed specification for temporary fire alarm systems.

What the Consultation Covered

The draft raised several important considerations for the industry, including:

• How temporary fire alarm systems should be designed, tested and deployed
• Whether current equipment is fit for future compliance
• Practical questions around call point design, alarm reset methods, and detector use

Crucially, based on the draft requirements, there is currently no system on the market that fully complies, which could signal a significant shift in how sites are protected.

Why It Matters

While PAS documents are not law, they are often quickly adopted across the industry – influencing:

• Contractor specifications
• Insurer expectations
• Procurement decisions

If adopted in a similar form, PAS 9970 could lead to:

• New system requirements across construction sites
• Replacement of existing temporary fire alarm equipment over time
• A transition period as manufacturers work towards compliance

What Happens Next

1. Now the consultation has closed, the process moves into review:
2. The steering group will assess all submitted feedback
3. Revisions will be made to the draft
4. The final PAS 9970 document will be published

This phase is critical – and often where practical industry feedback shapes the final outcome.

Keeping You in the Picture

We know this is a technical and evolving area, so we’ll continue to monitor developments and share updates as things progress.

As more clarity emerges on the final requirements and timelines, we’ll keep you informed on what it could mean for construction sites and temporary fire safety.

In short: the consultation may have closed, but PAS 9970 is still evolving – and we’ll keep you in the picture as it develops.