Publication of terms of reference for Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety published

The government has published the terms of reference for the independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety that was commissioned following the Grenfell Tower fire.

The review will assess the effectiveness of current building and fire safety regulations and compliance and enforcement issues, and will focus on multi occupancy high rise residential buildings. This will include addressing whether the government’s large-scale adding system testing programme identified any potential systemic failures.

The review’s two priorities are to develop a more robust regulatory system and provide further assurance to residents that the buildings they live in are safe. The review will cover the regulatory system for all buildings, but will have a strong focus on multi occupancy high rise residential buildings.

Dame Judith Hackitt, a qualified engineer with strong regulatory background, is leading the review. The review will report jointly to Communities Secretary Sajid Javid and Home Secretary Amber Rudd. An interim report will be submitted in autumn 2017 and a final report in spring 2018. The review will cooperate with the Public Inquiry, and Hackitt will review her recommendations in the light of the findings of the Inquiry.

Sajid Javid, Communities Secretary, said: “We must learn the lessons of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and ensure that a fire like this cannot happen again. Following the fire, I commissioned a series of large-scale tests, which have raised the question of whether there have been potential systemic failures within the building regulatory and fire safety system.

“This independent review led by Dame Judith Hackitt will address any potential failures and recommend how we ensure the whole building regulations and fire safety system is robust. I am determined that we do everything possible to make people safe and to ensure that they feel safe.”

Dame Judith Hackitt, review chair, said: “I look forward to working with experts from across different sectors to take an urgent, fresh and comprehensive examination of the regulatory system and related compliance and enforcement issues.

“It’s right that we consider the whole system together and ensure that everything possible is done to improve the safety of buildings. I will also be speaking to residents of multi occupancy residential buildings who must have a voice about these important issues that affect their safety.”