Annual fire bills can be reduced by £34 million a year, meaning 15 per cent less fires, according to latest research by the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

Annual fire bills can be reduced by £34 million a year, meaning 15 per cent less fires, according to latest research by the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

The association is calling for changes to be made to building regulations to include a fire management standard in order to reduce annual fire bills.

These demands are included in a review of the Building Regulations currently being carried out by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

It is anticipated that factors to be considered at the design stage of a property should include local rates of fire, proximity to and use of neighbouring buildings and levels of deprivation.

Jane Milne, the ABI's head of household and property insurance, said: "With 35 per cent of fires arising from poor fire safety management, having a fire management safety standard at the building design stage could reduce significantly the devastating social impact of fire."

Figures released by the ABI show that in the first three quarters of this year, the cost of commercial fires has risen by 20 per cent compared to the same period last year.