The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on Jan 20, 2020 launched a consultation seeking views on ‘how to assess and prioritize fire safety risks and how to better understand the complexity of building risk’ to ensure that an appropriate level of safety is achieved in existing buildings.
Assessing fire safety of buildings
MHCLG (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) stated that they are commissioning research to develop an evidence base on fire safety risk in buildings, which could assist building owners in the prioritization of risks in existing buildings and prioritization of buildings based on a broader understanding of risk.
This call for evidence is seeking views and evidence to help define the scope of this research by providing, in advance, stakeholder and industry views on approaches, tools and methodology that should be considered for this complex project.
Technical review of Building Regulations
BAFE will respond to the consultation in the interest of determining evidentially competent providers
The proposed research is in line with the Secretary of State’s commitment to conducting a full-scale technical review of the guidance to the Building Regulations and to provide advice to building owners and residents. BAFE will be responding to the consultation in the interest of determining evidentially competent providers for on-going fire safety requirements of existing buildings.
Stephen Adams, Chief Executive Officer at BAFE, noted, “We encourage everyone to review the document provided on the MHCLG website and to respond accordingly. It is extremely promising to see research into the existing built environment, something we have been calling for as necessary for some time. Improving the fire safety of new builds is vital, but it is just as important – if not more important, to make those responsible for existing buildings already inhabited appropriately manage their risk and action this.”
Fire safety: risk prioritization
The open consultation Fire safety: risk prioritization in existing buildings is a call for evidence that is open for responses from Jan 20, 2020 and closes on Feb 17, 2020 at 11:45pm.