The government has announced an independent review of building regulations and fire safety.
Serious questions about the fire safety of high rise residential buildings were raised following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, and subsequent government testing of aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding from similar buildings across the country.
The government has now published the results from large scale tests of building cladding systems. These tests simulate a tall building and allow experts to understand better how different types of cladding panels behave with different types of insulation in a fire.
We understand that immediate action is underway to ensure the safety of residents in these buildings. But the results also make clear that there needs to be a better understanding of how current building regulations and fire safety works in order to make them as effective as possible in the future.
The independent review will be led by Dame Judith Hackitt, Chair of EEF, the Manufacturers’ Organisation, who will look at current building regulations and fire safety with a particular focus on high rise residential buildings.
The review will examine:
- the regulatory system around the design, construction and on-going management of buildings in relation to fire safety
- related compliance and enforcement issues
- international regulation and experience in this area
Terms of reference for this independent review will be published in summer 2017, once the terms of reference for the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry have been agreed.
We expect that the review will present an interim report before the end of the year, and a final report no later than spring 2018. We hope that the government will act on any recommendations from this review to ensure the safety of those living in high rise buildings.
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