INDUSTRY NEWS 5
MHCLG announces actions on Grenfell Inquiry Phase 1
The Government has released its response to the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 1 report, which sets out the actions it is taking to address chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s recommendations – including the controversial ban of combustible materials on new high-rise blocks, and details of the upcoming Fire Safety Bill. While it reportedly “accepted in principle” all the recommendations at the time of its publication (October 2019), the response is intended to make it clear what the Government has already done, and is planning to do in the wake of the disaster, ranging from interim safety measures to full changes in law.
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS The response leads with the use of combustible materials, arguing that the report “makes it clear” that the use of Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) rainscreen cladding and combustible insulation on the exterior of the tower “was the defining factor in the rapid and all-consuming spread of the fire.” Since the Grenfell Tower fire the Government has reportedly identified over 400 high-rise buildings with unsafe ACM cladding, and ensured “appropriate interim safety measures are in place,” as well as making £600m of funding available for its replacement in the social and private sectors. The MHCLG response then points out that it banned the use of combustible materials on new high-rise blocks of flats in December 2018, and in January, announced the launch of a consultation to review the current ban, including proposals to lower the 18 metre height threshold to at least 11 metres – causing controversy for some in the sector, with products such as structural timber being affected by this (and which are argued to offer safety and ecology benefits over some still-legal alternatives – as seen on page 10).
FIRE SAFETY BILL
The response then goes on to discuss The Home Office’s upcoming Fire Safety Bill, which will “put beyond doubt” that building owners or managers of multi-occupied residential buildings of any height are required “to consider fully and mitigate the fire safety risks of any external wall systems and front doors to individual flats.”
The Government believes this will
create a “firm foundation” to deliver on the further legislative recommendations in Phase 1 of the report, with the Home Office planning to consult on these proposals in Spring 2020.
It also advises those responsible under the Fire Safety order “to assess the risk of external wall structures if they have not done so, and take the necessary measures as a result of that assessment,” warning that if they do not do so, “the legislation will affirm that enforcing authorities have the powers they need to take action.”
FIRE DOORS After discussing the ‘stay put’ policy and evacuation procedures – which the Government has created a steering group to develop national guidelines for, and has “sought views on proposals to improve way finding signage within blocks of flats,” the response then moves on to the installation and specification of fire doors. The MHCLG says it is “committed to
ensuring that all fire doors meet and exceed minimum standards,” and it is notifying National Trading Standards to “stop production and sale of affected door blanks immediately” after its investigation. Since then, it has reportedly continued
to work with the Association of Composite Door Manufacturers to raise standards across the market, with the remediation of Glass Reinforced Plastic composite fire doors “being led by the fire door industry.” The MHCLG has recommended that all fire doors, including closers, should be “routinely checked or inspected by a suitably qualified professional,” and has issued advice through its ‘Expert Panel’ asking landlords or building owners “to communicate with residents to ensure that they are aware of the importance of maintaining the self-closing devices on all fire doors.”
Alongside this, following the conclusion of the fire door testing programme, the Independent Expert Advisory Panel have reviewed the advice made available to building owners, and will be publishing updated advice on fire doors as part of the consolidated Expert Panel advice note.
CERTIFICATION & REGULATION The MHCLG response also recognises the importance of the testing and certifica- tion of materials, which it said will be “considered by Sir Martin in more detail
during the course of Phase 2.” The MHCLG is however reportedly
progressing with “key policies” in this area – with the Construction Products Standards Committee due to make recommendations on construction products and system standards, and advise on how the testing regime can be improved. In addition, it says a technical review of
the guidance to the Building Regulations with regard to fire safety (Approved Document B) is “well underway.” The response also argues that the
Government “did not wait for Sir Martin’s findings” where evidence is well established, and, while Phase 1 of the Inquiry did not examine the impact sprinklers may have had at Grenfell Tower, MHCLG has “listened to concerns on sprinklers from residents and build- ing owners” and set out proposals accordingly.
NEXT STEPS After detailing suggestions for all Fire and Rescue Services, the report then lists some of the next steps that MHCLG will take – noting that the response will “rightly” be scrutinised by Members of Parliament first. As Phase 1 “examined what happened
on the night of the fire,” it continues, “Phase 2 will investigate the wider context.” This will reportedly include the
nature and application of Building Regulations, the way in which local and central Government responded to the fire, and the handling of concerns raised by tenants over many year – but, being “complex,” MHCLG says this will “inevitably take time.” The report concludes: “Our promise as
a Government is to work together to ensure that swift and decisive action continues to be taken to address the Inquiry’s recommendations, so that no such tragedy can ever be allowed to happen again. We are committed to ensuring all residents are safe in their homes, and feel safe, now and in the future.”
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