The UK’s fire safety sector is pleased to see today’s publication of the Building Safety Bill and Fire Safety Consultation starting a public consultation period that will now run over the summer period.
All those working in the fire sector have been waiting for this day since the tragedy of Grenfell Tower three years ago because it represents the moment when all the legal processes that control building safety, including crucially the control of fire, will become re-energised and improved to prevent any similar catastrophic failures and loss of life.
While recognising many lessons are still being learnt, notably from the recently recommenced Phase 2 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, and that many high rise buildings have already been made safer, by removing external cladding, changing internal fire doors, installing fire detection and alarms, new directional signs and in some cases fire suppression systems, the urgency to introduce the fundamental change called for by Dame Judith Hackitt has remained.
Today’s announcement by Secretary of State Robert Jenrick MP is therefore applauded as it starts the detailed business of binding new fire and building safety regimes into law
Fire Sector Federation Chairman Michael Harper says… “After calling for action over so long a period this is a most welcome moment”
“We all realise changing the country’s fire and building control systems is a complex and demanding task. Throughout a building’s life, from the drawing board until its demolished, there has to be a system of control that ensures safety does match the different phases of construction, occupation, and use. Intrinsic within the construction sector is innovation affecting all of these multiple life phases and throughout occupation a building’s use and its users change so a new regime has to be adaptable and well founded on life safety principles.”
“As we enter the Bill’s examination and the Home Office consultation stages our Federation will be seeking to ensure a principled fire safety foundation is firmly established“
For further information about the Fire Sector Federation visit ww.firesectorfederation.co.uk.