FOCUS
The golden thread Peter Barker flags up some key issues identified
in the Hackitt report as central to a more robust, transparent and efficient approach to fire safety and assurance in construction
O
NE OF the key fi ndings in the summary of the interim report on the review of building regulations and fire safety1
is, perhaps unsurprisingly, that the current regulatory system of ensuring fi re safety in high rise and complex buildings is not fi t for purpose. The report cites a number of reasons as to why this conclusion was reached and the interim report will now shape the direction of travel for the second phase of the review, with the fi nal report to be concluded in spring 2018. Dame Hackitt’s report highlighted central issues applicable to fi re resisting construction products and systems installed within buildings, including competence, change control, compliance and quality assurance, and third party certifi cation schemes. Here, we will link these to the principle of ‘the golden thread’ – a term that Dame Hackitt uses in the interim report to describe having a record of the building’s original design intent together with knowledge of any subsequent changes and refurbishment activities. This is to ensure beyond reasonable doubt that the integrity of the building is being maintained correctly and will continue to
36 MARCH 2018
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protect the occupants of the building in the event of a fi re.
Use of certifi cation
To understand how third party certifi cation schemes are used within the construction industry and can assist in improving competence, change control, compliance and quality assurance, it is fi rst necessary to understand what third party certifi cation is and how it differs from fi rst, or second party certifi cation. On this subject, the international standard giving the requirements for bodies certifying products, processes or services2
, BS EN ISO/
IEC 17065: 2012, states: ‘The overall aim of certifying products, processes or services is to give confi dence to all interested parties that a product, process or service fulfi ls specifi ed requirements. The value of certification is the degree of confidence and trust that is established by an impartial and competent demonstration of fulfilment of specified requirements by a third party’. In the context of fire resisting products and systems, the aim of product and process
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