The new Building Safety Regulator promised by the government after the publication of the Grenfell Tower inquiry Phase One report last October will be established immediately by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Regulator will raise building safety and performance standards, including overseeing a new, more stringent regime for higher-risk buildings.
The creation of the new Regulator was announced by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Robert Jenrick. Updating MPs on a major package of reforms to the building safety system, he said: “This government is committed to bringing about the biggest change in building safety for a generation.”
Mr Jenrick warned that the slow pace of improving building safety standards will not be tolerated and he made it clear that from next month he will start to name building owners where remediation has not started to remove unsafe Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding from their buildings.
He also confirmed the government will consult on extending the ban on combustible materials to buildings below 18m and will seek views on how risks are assessed within existing buildings to inform future policy.
With a strong track record of working with industry and other regulators to improve safety, they will draw on experience and the capabilities of other regulators to implement the new regime. Dame Judith Hackitt will chair a Board to oversee the transition.
Responding to the government’s announcement, the Fire Protection Association’s Managing Director Jonathan O’Neill says: “As you would expect we wholeheartedly welcome any strengthening of Building Regulations and look forward to seeing the details. However we remain concerned about the creation of a two stream approach with the so-called “Hackitt Buildings” being under a different regime than that which covers the majority of other buildings, including those where the majority of deaths and injuries actually occur.
“We are similarly supportive of a review of the height restrictions for combustible materials on buildings, but remain firmly of the view that combustible materials should be banned on all high risk buildings regardless of their height.”
Consolidated advice
The government appointed independent expert advisory panel (IEAP) has clarified and updated advice to building owners on actions they should take to ensure their buildings are safe, with a focus on their external wall systems, commonly referred to as cladding.
This process simplifies the language, consolidates previous advice into one place, and - vitally - makes clear that building owners need to do more to address safety issues on residential buildings under 18 metres.
It additionally reflects the independent panel view that cladding material comprised of ACM (and other metal composites) with an unmodified polyethylene core should not be on residential buildings of any height and should be removed.
A call for evidence will also be published, seeking views on the assessment of risks within existing buildings. This important step will help to gather ideas and lead to research which will provide a firm evidence base to guide decisions for both existing buildings and future regulatory regimes.
The consolidated advice also makes clear the actions building owners should take in relation to fire doors.
The government welcomes the commitment by the Association of Composite Door Manufacturers to work with building owners to remediate their doors which failed tests.
