Building safety reforms ‘must go further’, say fire chiefs

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has urged the government to go further with reforms to make buildings safer and more inclusive.

In a statement, the fire chiefs warned that parts of the current guidance have not kept pace with modern construction methods, changes in building use, or the needs of a diverse and ageing population. 

The NFCC welcomed a number of measures set out in a recent consultation on proposed changes to Approved Document B, the statutory guidance that supports fire safety requirements within the Building Regulations.

It said the proposals represented progress in some areas, for instance the introduction of guidance on evacuation lifts, but that it needed to go further.

In particular, it urged wider provision of evacuation lifts to support residents unable to use stairs, increased use of sprinklers in specialised housing, further review of requirements for car parks, and more measures to address the use of modern methods of construction.

The NFCC’s protection lead, Dave Russel, said the progress on reforms was “encouraging” but that the process was “about more than individual changes to guidance”. 

“Last year, we set out a vision for a building safety system that reflects how people live today, supports those who may need help to evacuate, and keeps pace with modern buildings and modern risks,” he said.

“Buildings should be suitable for the people who live in them, rather than people having to be suitable for buildings. 

“When someone needs to escape a fire, their safety should not depend on whether a building was designed with their needs in mind.

“The Grenfell Tower fire showed why we must put residents at the centre of every decision. We welcome the progress being made and look forward to working with Government and industry to ensure the wider programme of reform delivers safer, more inclusive buildings for everyone.”