Independent review of building regulations and fire safety announced

Following on from the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, government has announced an independent review of building regulations and fire safety.

The events at Grenfell Tower raised serious questions about the fire safety of high rise residential buildings, and subsequent government testing of cladding from similar buildings across the country made clear the need to understand how current building regulations and fire safety work in order to make them as effective as possible in the future.

This independent review, to be led by Dame Judith Hackitt, Chair of EEF, the Manufacturers’ Organisation, will look at current building regulations and fire safety with a particular focus on high rise residential buildings. It will report jointly to the Communities Secretary Sajid Javid and the Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

It 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

As part of the review, Dame Judith will consult the Buildings Regulations Advisory Committee – which advises the government on changes to building regulations– as well as the construction and housing industry, the fire sector, international experts, MPs and the public.

The review will also work closely with other government departments and the devolved administrations and consider the implications of changes to the regulatory system on other government objectives.

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.

It is expected that the review will present an interim report before the end of the year, and a final report no later than spring 2018.

We will be responding on behalf of the woodworking sector, and although the terms of the review are yet to be clarified, we are already are seeking members' answers to 5 key questions on Approved Document B which may be used to support our response. Could we ask you to provide your comments on these by 21st August to hannah.mansell@bwf.org.uk.

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