NEWS
of the FSO ‘by way of secondary legislation’. The government noted that
this would enable it to ‘respond quickly to developments in the design and construction of buildings’; while a number of supplementary actions were being taken to improve building and fire safety at the same time as the bill. These include the new building regulator, the building safety bill, the £1bn funding for cladding removal and the Fire Kills campaign relaunch. James Brokenshire, Security
Minister, commented: ‘We remain committed to implementing the recommendations made following phase one of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, and the government has already made major reforms to building safety. Today’s bill will help bring about meaningful change to improving building safety.’
Industry reaction
National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) In its response, the NFCC noted it was ‘pleased to see’ the new bill ‘includes measures NFCC has been calling for since 2017’, and that it means FRSs ‘are empowered to take enforcement action – and hold building owners to account if they are not compliant’ – with FRSs having ‘never had these powers for external walls before’. For the NFCC, there had been ‘some ambiguity’ about individual flat front doors, but it hopes the additional powers ‘speed up the remediation’ of cladding ‘by taking action against those who are not compliant’. It added however that there need to be ‘additional supportive measures in place’ with regard to identifying different cladding types, and in meeting the costs of any additional work FRSs undertake. Roy Wilsher, chair of the NFCC,
commented: ‘I am pleased to see the announcement of the new Fire Safety Bill. NFCC has been calling for these powers since 2017 and these changes should contribute to the
public feeling safer in their homes. We look forward to seeing additional supportive measures to assist fire and rescue services, identify different types of cladding and take appropriate measures. ‘We now need to see
the detail of the secondary legislation, which will take forward recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report. NFCC is looking forward to engaging with the Home Office at the earliest opportunity, as this is where the nuanced details will sit. It is essential this achieves positive fire safety outcomes.’
London Fire Brigade (LFB) In its response to the bill, LFB ‘welcomed’ its publication and cited the extension of FRS enforcement powers over multi occupant buildings as evidence that this clarification ‘will empower’ FRSs to take enforcement action ‘and hold building owners to account if they are not compliant with their responsibilities for the outside of buildings, as well as the inside’. Dan Daly, LFB’s assistant commissioner for fire safety, commented: ‘We are pleased to see these amendments to the [FSO] and the clarity it provides with regards to the exterior of buildings and individual front doors which open into common parts. With so much concern around cladded buildings across the country, we welcome this
clarification in legislation which will enable us and other fire and rescue services to take action against those responsible for building safety where necessary to ensure that people are safe in their homes.’
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) RICS’ response came from its global building standards director Gary Strong, who commented: ‘The Government’s publication of this new Fire Safety Bill is a welcome move that will give further clarity to leaseholders and building owners – but we hope the details of this important legislation aren’t lost amongst the growing Covid-19 health crisis. ‘RICS have said for some time
the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 needed clarifying, and building owners and their agents will now have the information needed – specifically in relation to external walls, balconies and front doors which open onto internal common areas – to better safeguard the people living in their buildings. ‘A few months ago, RICS
stepped in to provide additional information in fire safety for the public – publishing a free guide on fire safety which sets out the requirements on building owners, but we’re pleased the Fire Safety Bill clarifies what is needed even further.’
www.frmjournal.com MAY 2020 11
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