New Building Safety Regulator and Advice Welcomed

THE CREATION OF A NEW BUILDING Safety Regulator as part of plans to make buildings safer following the Grenfell Tower fire has been welcomed.

Housing Minister Robert Jenrick also revealed plans to consult on lowering the height at which combustible cladding systems are banned to 11m, approximately four storeys, and to include hotels and hostels alongside flats, student accommodation, hospitals and prisons.

The new safety regulator is to be established by the Health and Safety Executive in shadow form immediately, ahead of being fully established in law.

Chair of the Health and Safety Executive, Martin Temple said: “We are proud the government has asked HSE to establish the new Building Safety Regulator.

“HSE’s vast experience of working in partnership with industry and others to improve lives will ensure people are confident the creation of the new regulator is in good hands.”

New advice

The Minister also published new, simplified advice for building owners on building safety.

The advice, which can be found in full here , states, “The Expert Panel believes ACM cladding (and other metal composite material cladding) with an unmodified polyethylene filler (category 3) presents a significant fire hazard on residential buildings at any height with any form of insulation.”

Action welcomed

The news was welcomed by the likes of Bureau Veritas and the British Safety Council, who also warned the new regulator must be properly funded to do the job.

Chief Executive of the British Safety Council, Mike Robinson, said: “We all share a determination that the tragic fire at Grenfell must never, ever happen again. I am glad that the government has accepted the inquiry’s recommendations and that there is now a sense of urgency to implement them. We await the detailed proposals in the Fire Safety Bill with interest.”

“A new Building Regulator should help ensure these new arrangements can bed in, and I agree with the government that the Health and Safety Executive has a strong and proven track record. I also welcome Dame Judith Hackitt’s continued involvement. But all this must be underpinned by adequate funding.

“Between 2010 and 2017 the HSE had a real-terms cut of over 50%, losing nearly a third of their staff (32%). I noted that the Secretary of State has promised that the new regulator will get the funds it needs. I’d like to see that funding ring-fenced so that it doesn’t disappear to plug the existing funding gap at HSE.

“The same applies to local enforcement – if the government wants to put it beyond doubt that owners and managers of tower blocks are responsible for fire safety then the enforcement regime must make its presence felt. And that means giving local authorities hard cash as well as teeth.”

Andy Lowe

Andy Lowe, Director of Building Control at Bureau Veritas said, “As part of its commitment to implement the Hackitt recommendations, the government has provided clear direction on the remit of the new building safety regulator and how the body will operate.

“This is a welcome move for residents and the industry alike, giving confidence to occupants of multi-storey residential buildings while further strengthening building safety as a fundamental principle for the construction industry.

“In light of these new measures on everything from lowering the height threshold over which buildings cannot have combustible cladding to exemptions on cavity trays, we’d encourage architects, developers and building owners to take swift and urgent action to prepare for these changes in the pipeline.

“As we enter a new era of competency, compliance and accountability on building safety standards, this latest announcement will only intensify the biggest period of change facing the construction industry. The direction of travel is clear and well-documented – in the Hackitt recommendations, the multitude of subsequent government consultations and RIBA guidance.

“Hence, by taking the time now to implement these best practices in all aspects of design, construction, maintenance and certification of buildings, we will not only set a new standard for building safety but ensure we are all well-equipped to enact the new regulations.”