Publishing principles
Accuracy, clarity and useful limits
We aim to answer the search question directly while preserving important qualifications. Content should distinguish a legal requirement from good practice, explain when a building-specific judgement is needed and avoid presenting a certificate, register or standard as a universal guarantee.
We do not copy another publisher’s wording. Our page structures, explanations, comparison tables and datasets are created for this service and checked against the cited material.
Accurate
Claims should be supported by current, relevant evidence.
Understandable
Technical concepts are translated without removing necessary caveats.
Independent
Commercial interests must not rewrite the legal or technical conclusion.
Actionable
Readers should know the next sensible check, record or professional question.
Evidence hierarchy
How sources are selected
We prefer the current text of legislation, GOV.UK guidance, regulator and fire-and-rescue publications, official inquiry material and the publisher’s record for a standard. Professional bodies and industry guidance can add context but are not presented as law.
British Standards and PAS documents are usually voluntary codes or methodologies unless a contract, approval, strategy or other requirement makes a particular use relevant. Copyrighted standards are summarised rather than reproduced.
- Check jurisdiction, commencement date and current status
- Prefer the primary source over a secondary summary
- Identify whether a statement is law, official guidance or industry practice
- Link directly to the source where practical
- State uncertainty or building-specific limits
Dates and change
What a review date means
A review date shows when the page was last checked or materially updated. It is not a guarantee that no source changed afterwards. Fire-safety law, guidance and standards can change between reviews.
High-impact pages are revisited when new legislation commences, official guidance changes, a standard is superseded or a credible correction identifies a problem. Minor spelling or presentation fixes may not change the review date.
Research and technology
Use of research and editing tools
Search, drafting, coding and quality-control tools may assist with research, structure, consistency and technical production. They are not treated as authorities. Published claims should still be checked against suitable sources, and responsibility for publication remains with the site operator.
We do not invent professional credentials or imply that every page has been individually approved by a regulator, standards body or named expert.
Commercial separation
Referrals, directories and conflicts
The site can receive a referral fee or other commercial benefit. A provider connected with the operator may sometimes fulfil an enquiry. That relationship must not determine what the guidance says about legal duties, competence or provider selection.
Provider lists are starting points, not rankings, endorsements or complete market surveys. Inclusion does not guarantee current registration, availability, insurance, price or suitability.
- Explain the referral model before personal details are shared
- Do not describe paid or connected providers as independently ranked
- Apply the same competence cautions to connected and third-party providers
- Separate estimated information from a provider’s confirmed quotation
Corrections process
How to report and handle an error
Use the contact page and select “Editorial correction”. Include the page address, the statement at issue and a source or explanation where possible. We review the evidence rather than changing content solely because a conclusion is disputed.
A safety-significant or substantive error should be corrected promptly, with the page review date updated and a clarification added where readers could otherwise misunderstand the earlier version. Minor typographical and formatting errors may be corrected without a notice.
- Report the exact URL and wording
- Explain the concern and likely impact
- Provide a current primary source where available
- State any relevant professional or commercial interest
- Allow time to verify the evidence and connected pages