Brokenshire commits to review of fire safety guidelines

Following recommendations made by Dame Judith Hackitt, the Secretary of State for Communities, James Brokenshire, has said that he will be conducting a full-scale review of the building regulations fire safety guidance.

Commencing in the Autumn, the review will assess whether the underlying policy should be updated to reflect modern building practice, the latest understanding of fire risks and technical and scientific innovations.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has also committed to establishing a panel, made up of residents, to ensure proposed safety improvements are grounded in the experience of those who live in high-rise buildings and confirmed that Hackitt will chair a soon-to-be established Industry Safety Steering Group to drive the culture change needed to improve safety and hold industry to account.

Brokenshire said: “There is nothing more important than ensuring people are safe in their own homes. That is why I am announcing a package of measures focused on improving building safety, having listened carefully to the concerns which have been raised.

“Dame Judith’s report sets out the right framework to improve safety but I will not hesitate to go further than the recommendations where I deem it necessary. That is why I am going further than my original commitment to simply clarify the guidelines, by commencing an end-to-end technical review of the fire safety aspects of building regulations in the Autumn.”