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COMMENT


COMMENT In celebration of regulation


Dr Jonathan Evans from Ash & Lacy says that, far from stifling innovation in envelope design and cavity trays, the recent safety regulations actually put the UK on the verge of a ‘meritocracy’ that will benefit future buildings


C


ontained in June’s Government response to the industry consultation on the ban on combustible materials over 11 metres, there’s a really interesting comment. Namely: “We do not believe it is appropriate to permanently exempt cavity trays, as it would hinder innovation in development of additional compliant products.” Hallelujah!


One of the arguments I have consistently tried to refute made by those opposing tighter regulations on fire safety is that regulations


hinder innovation. Clearly, if you say ‘it must be made of 1 mm thick steel,’ then that’s a prescriptive requirement which will inevitably limit choice and design freedom. But a combustible materials ban is a ‘performance’ requirement – you can do anything if it passes the relevant test.


Anybody who has the creativity to have invented anything (or even rarer, has gone on to commercialise it), will understand that if there’s no demand for something, then it’s unlikely that somebody


AN AIR OF PROGRESS According to the author: “regulatory determination, despite industry whining, drove the invention of the catalytic converter and changed the world”


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ADF AUGUST 2022


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