Grenfell Tower
lanes, and this meant that the fire was able to spread from building to building, from street to street and from ward to ward until a conflagration existed. We must also remember that early
attempts to learn the lessons of the Great Fire met with resistance. Freeholders and leaseholders were so reluctant to have wider streets that the city authorities were forced to introduce strict regulatory regimes. This included requiring replacement buildings to be made of brick and/or stone and with roofs made from stone, slate or tile; buildings were not allowed to overhang the street beyond the limits of the plot of land; and fireplaces and chimneys were required to meet strict specifications.
In learning these lessons from history, we
must be prepared for opposition to change within our modern day system, for there are many vested interests at play, and we must look to challenge these to ensure the much needed improvements are realised.
Review and update
Since 2009, the ABI has been calling for a comprehensive review of building regulations to ensure robust procedures are in place that enable a competitive property insurance
market to continue. The current set of reviews and inquiries marks a seminal opportunity to recommend substantial change that will fundamentally improve fire safety in buildings in England, but also as a consequence will improve the risk profile of these buildings, increase competitiveness amongst insurers and potentially benefit customers through associated effects on premiums. This review is both important and urgent, given that the last comprehensive review of Approved Document B – the regulations in England covering fire safety matters – concluded in 2006. Despite the need for reform, the market
has not reacted in a kneejerk fashion to the events at Grenfell. We accept that the system is complex, and unpicking its key vulnerabilities will take time – indeed, Dame Judith makes this point in her interim report – but by the same token, necessary reform cannot be unduly delayed. Since the last major review of building regulations, the use of modern methods of construction has substantially altered how buildings are designed and constructed. The awful events at Grenfell Tower
appear to be a symptom of a systematic failure in the current building control and enforcement regimes and, as a
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