Fire safety failings identified at Hinkley Point C by regulators

Regulators have identified significant fire safety failings at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power construction site, prompting formal enforcement action. The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has issued fire enforcement notices to five organisations involved in the project after uncovering serious deficiencies during a targeted inspection in December 2025.

Safety concerns at critical infrastructure

The inspection, which focused on the Unit 1 HF (electrical) building, revealed a lack of compliance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Among the issues identified were the absence of a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment for the site, inadequate emergency escape provisions, and the accumulation of combustible materials in a designated emergency exit staircase. These deficiencies posed a significant safety risk, particularly given the scale and complexity of the ongoing construction and the number of workers present.

Enforcement notices issued to contractors

The enforcement notices were served to five organisations involved with the Mechanical, Electrical, and Heating (MEH) alliance and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) works at the Somerset site. The organisations include Altrad Babcock, Altrad Services, Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick, Cavendish Nuclear, and NG Bailey. The notices require these contractors to “make improvements to ensure adequate arrangements are developed and embedded to address the shortfalls in compliance and prevent reoccurrence”, according to the ONR.

Regulator underscores the importance of fire safety

Highlighting the severity of the findings, Mahtab Khan, ONR’s Head of Regulation – EPR, emphasised the need for rigorous fire safety measures on nuclear construction sites. “Fire safety is an important part of our regulatory activity and is not optional – it is a legal requirement that protects lives”, Khan stated. He also affirmed ONR’s commitment to holding dutyholders accountable, saying, “We will not hesitate to take enforcement action where safety standards fall short, and we expect all dutyholders to treat fire safety with the urgency it demands.”

Collaboration to address risks

The ONR confirmed that while the identified deficiencies did not result in any immediate danger to workers, the public, or the environment, the potential for harm was categorised as unacceptable. Collaborative efforts are underway to address the risks, with Khan noting that “working alongside the principal contractor and MEH alliance, we have made good progress in understanding the root causes of these shortfalls to ensure they are addressed.”

This regulatory action forms part of the ONR’s broader oversight of Hinkley Point C, one of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects in the UK, as it seeks to ensure that safety standards are upheld at every stage of construction.

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