Compliance guide
Is SFG20 a legal requirement?
Chris Morgan, Founder of Fixray · Last updated
No. SFG20 is not a law, and none of the regulations cited here names it. In England and Wales they require workplace equipment and fire safety systems to be kept in good repair, under a suitable system of maintenance where needed. SFG20 binds you only when a contract you sign, or a client's tender you accept, names it.
What does maintenance law require in England and Wales?
The law sets a duty to maintain, not a method. The regulations below require equipment and systems to be kept in good repair under a suitable system of maintenance. None of them names SFG20 or any other schedule library. Northern Ireland has its own regulations, which this guide does not cover.
| Source | What it requires | Names SFG20? |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, regulation 5 (England, Wales and Scotland) | The workplace and its equipment, devices and systems kept "in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair", and where appropriate "subject to a suitable system of maintenance" | No |
| Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), as summarised by HSE (Great Britain) | Work equipment "maintained in an efficient state, in efficient order and in good repair", and a machinery maintenance log, if you keep one, kept up to date | No |
| Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, article 17 (England and Wales) | "Where necessary in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons", the responsible person keeps the premises and its fire safety facilities, equipment and devices under "a suitable system of maintenance" and in good repair | No |
| A contract or tender that specifies SFG20 | The SFG20 tasks and frequencies for the assets that document covers | Yes, by name |
When does SFG20 become binding?
SFG20 binds you through a document you agreed to, not through statute. Check two places.
- Client contracts and tenders. SFG20 describes tenders that require working to the SFG20 standard. If a contract or tender you accept names SFG20, you are bound by that document.
- Your own organisation's policy. SFG20 rates some tasks pink: "business critical, contractual or operational to ensure sector/organisation compliance", mandatory for you even where no law requires them.
What do SFG20's red statutory tasks mean?
SFG20 colours every task by criticality. It defines statutory as "anything required by primary legislation such as Acts of Parliament and secondary legislation such as Statutory Instruments", and says red tasks "signify activities that may assist in achieving legal compliance."
So a red task points at a legal duty; it does not create one. The duty applies whether or not you use SFG20. For fire safety, the Fire Safety Order 2005 covers England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own fire safety law.
What records should you keep?
Whatever method you use, keep a record that shows the maintenance happened. HSE's PUWER guidance does not require a maintenance log, but says any log you do keep must be kept up to date.
- What was checked or maintained, and on which asset or in which room.
- When it was done, and by whom.
- The result, and what was done about anything that failed.
- The record in one place, so you can show it to an inspector or a client without hunting.
Where does Fixray fit?
Fixray is not an SFG20 schedule library and does not resell one. It keeps the record: each recurring check runs as a scheduled job, and every completion is saved with who did it and when, plus a completion photo or the reason there is none.
The free Log tier includes one active scheduled job; Track and Operate lift the limit and export the records as a PDF. Full SFG20 task-code mapping is on our roadmap.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is general information drawn from the sources below, checked on 2 October 2026. A competent person or your responsible person should confirm what applies to your buildings.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
- Is SFG20 a law?
- No. SFG20 is an industry standard published by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), not a law, and the maintenance regulations cited on this page do not name it. It becomes binding when a contract or tender you have accepted specifies it.
- Can a client require SFG20?
- Yes, through the contract. SFG20 describes tenders that require working to the SFG20 standard. If a contract or tender you have accepted names SFG20, the tasks and frequencies it covers are what you have agreed to deliver.
- What are SFG20 red tasks?
- Red is SFG20's statutory rating. SFG20 says red tasks "signify activities that may assist in achieving legal compliance". The legal duty behind a red task applies whether or not you use SFG20.
- Do I need an SFG20 subscription?
- Only to use SFG20's schedules. SFG20 is a subscription product from BESA, accessed through its Facilities-iQ platform. No law requires a subscription; a contract that specifies SFG20 may require you to work to its schedules.
- Does a small hotel need SFG20?
- Not by law. In England and Wales a small hotel must still keep its workplace equipment and fire safety systems in good repair, under a suitable system of maintenance where needed, and records of the work show it was done. Following SFG20 is a choice, unless a contract or tender you accept names it.
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