Senior industry
figures have met to inform the next phase of the Independent Review into
Building Regulations and Fire Safety.
Around 50 senior
industry figures have met to inform the next phase of the Independent Review
into Building Regulations and Fire Safety.
Dame Judith Hackitt
hosted the summit kick-starting the next phase of the Independent Review of
Building Regulations and Fire Safety.
At the summit, Dame
Judith issued a ‘call to action’ to all those involved in the building system
to bring about changes that will enable residents to be assured that their
buildings are, and will continue to be, safe to live in.
The event was
attended by around 50 senior industry figures, reflecting the full scope of the
Independent
Review which was commissioned in July 2017 following the Grenfell fire.
At the summit,
industry leaders committed to work aimed at creating a new system that will
work effectively and coherently. Working groups will be established to develop
innovative solutions in the following key areas:
- design, construction and
refurbishment – establishing what industry and regulators need to do to
fully embed building safety during the design and construction phase
- occupation and maintenance –
identifying what building owners, landlords and regulators need to do
differently to ensure that building safety is prioritised when a building
is occupied and throughout its life cycle
- products – determining how
the product testing and marketing regime can be improved
- competency – establishing how
competency requirements for key individuals involved in building and
managing complex and high-risk buildings should change
- residents’ voice –
determining the best way for residents to be given a clear, quick and
effective statutory route for raising concerns on fire safety
- regulation and guidance –
resolving whether central government ownership of technical guidance is
the most appropriate model for complex and high-risk buildings.
Dame Judith Hackitt
said: "I have been greatly encouraged by the wide ranging support which my
Interim
Report received. I can now say with confidence that there is widespread
agreement that the current system of regulation for high-rise and complex
buildings is broken and that we need a radical overhaul and a change in
culture.
"I was greatly
encouraged by the positive tone at the summit and the recognition of the common
challenge. We now need to agree both the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ of delivering the
transformational change which is needed.
"We have
invited people from a wide range of organisations to join with us not just in
agreeing the way forward but in making it happen."
