29 April 2019
By Nigel Howell, Chief Executive, FirstPort & Mark Varley, Group Head of Health and Safety, FirstPort
Dame Judith Hackitt’s review of building regulations and fire safety in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy will lead to a much more robust regulatory framework.
The property industry needs to be aware of the report’s findings and, in some cases, take immediate action.
The review found that regulations for residential buildings have not always been fully understood across the supply chain, from architects to owners. Some buildings have been built too quickly and cheaply according to the report, and relevant building safety information has not always been shared with all stakeholders.
Hackitt also found ambiguity around fire safety responsibilities throughout the design, build and occupation stages of a building – it was not always clear who should take responsibility for what.
Following the review, which is currently being examined in detail by 12 working groups, we can expect industry guidance and legislative change that will address these issues, ensuring responsibilities for fire safety are shared across the supply chain with clear handovers throughout the building lifecycle.
This article was printed in Property Week on Monday 19 November
