An independent review of building regulations and fire safety has been announced by the government.
This follows the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, which raised serious questions about the fire safety of high rise residential buildings, and subsequent government testing of aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding from similar buildings across the country.
The first result from large scale tests of building cladding systems has also been published today. These latest tests simulate a tall building and allow experts to understand better how different types of cladding panels behave with different types of insulation in a fire.
The first system tested, a wall cladding system using an aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding with unmodified polyethylene filler (Cat 3) and foam insulation, failed the test which is set out in current building regulations guidance.
Immediate action is already underway to ensure the safety of residents in these buildings. But the results also make clear that we need to understand how current building regulations and fire safety works in order to make them as effective as possible in the future.
This forward-looking independent review, to be led by Dame Judith Hackitt, Chair of EEF, the Manufacturers’ Organisation, will look at current building regulations and fire safety with a particular focus on high rise residential buildings. It will report jointly to the Communities Secretary Sajid Javid and the Home Secretary Amber Rudd.
It will examine:
- the regulatory system around the design, construction and on-going management of buildings in relation to fire safety
- related compliance and enforcement issues
- international regulation and experience in this area.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said: "Since the tragic Grenfell Tower disaster, the government has been working to make sure people living in high rise buildings are safe.
"It’s clear we need to urgently look at building regulations and fire safety. This independent review will ensure we can swiftly make any necessary improvements. Government is determined to make sure that we learn the lessons from the Grenfell Tower fire, and to ensure nothing like it can happen again."
As part of the review, Dame Judith will consult the Buildings Regulations Advisory Committee – which advises the government on changes to building regulations– as well as the construction and housing industry, the fire sector, international experts, MPs and the public.
The review will also work closely with other government departments and the devolved administrations and consider the implications of changes to the regulatory system on other government objectives.
Review Chair, Dame Judith Hackitt said: "This review will look at building regulations and fire safety to see what changes can be made for the future to make these more effective.
"I am keen to engage widely with industry and the public to inform the recommendations from the review. I want the recommendations to lead to any necessary improvements in the system being made."
Terms of reference for this independent review will be published in summer 2017, once the terms of reference for the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry have been agreed.
It is expected that the review will present an interim report before the end of the year, and a final report no later than spring 2018. The government will act swiftly on any recommendations from this review to make sure people living in high rise buildings are safe.
David Orr, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, said: “We welcome the establishment of the independent review of building regulations and fire safety and will engage with the process where appropriate.
“Since the fire at Grenfell Tower, all affected members have taken mitigating measures, introducing watch patrols and reinforcing evacuation policies.
“They will continue to prioritise having active and open communication of the latest results with their tenants. They will also map out their next steps on the basis of professional advice.
“What happens next will need to be swift and coordinated. The most effective way of ensuring this happens is for Government to make a clear and unambiguous commitment to making funding available upfront for any remedial works. Clearer guidance should also be given without delay on what material they deem safe to replace cladding.
“Housing associations will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety of their residents and we will be pressing for further guidance to ensure this can be done efficiently.”
