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Adam Bannister is a contributor to IFSEC Global, having been in the role of Editor from 2014 through to November 2019. Adam also had stints as a journalist at cybersecurity publication, The Daily Swig, and as Managing Editor at Dynamis Online Media Group.
January 3, 2019

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Hackitt implementation plan

FSF welcomes government pledge to implement Hackitt recommendations in full

The Fire Sector Federation (FSF) has broadly endorsed the government’s plan for implementing recommendations resulting from the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

But the not-for-profit organisation, which was founded in 2011 to help shape fire safety policy, cautioned that a “universal shift in culture” would take time, substantial resources and input from a range of stakeholders to achieve.

The government has promised to carry out all recommendations made by review chair Dame Judith Hackitt via the implementation plan published on 18 December. This includes a comprehensive review of Approved Document B, the document setting out building regulations.

The federation backed the following plans in particular:

  • Placing people’s safety above all other interests
  • Calling on everyone engaged in the building safety process to accept their responsibilities and improve their competency, culture and behaviour
  • Consulting on extending the scope beyond 10 storey residential buildings and the role of duty holder
  • Consulting on a tougher regulatory regime and more explicit use of building inspectors
  • Creation of a Joint Regulators Group and review of ‘golden thread’ information
  • A technical review of Approved Document B and other guidance and consultation on the role of BRAC
  • Developing a third-party accreditation framework for building products, where the FSF believes evidence already exists of better products, and more effective product marking
  • Empowering residents to access information and protect themselves better
  • Helping industry to raise standards and develop fresh approaches to safety

The FSF also welcomed the through the announcement of consultations to address various challenges that include:

  • Progressing remediation in the private sector to resolve the ACM problem now there is clarity on the scale and costs in social housing
  • Addressing how important roles like those undertaken by the temporary Expert Advisory Panel can be incorporated into the planned building safety system
  • Working inter-departmentally to ensure sufficient numbers of regulatory enforcers exist among FRS fire safety inspectors, where limitations have been reported by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services

“The tragedy of Grenfell Tower demanded the strongest of government response and the federation readily acknowledges the commitment and resources already made available to create and progress a Building Safety Programme and commission the Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety,” said FSF chairman Michael Harper.

“In urging the government to continue its commitment to improve fire safety, the federation confirms it will positively contribute through the consultation process and any other route by offering whatever technical and moral support it can to advance public fire safety.”

FSF members include the Fire Industry Association, Association for Specialist Fire Protection, British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association, Fire Protection Association, Institute of Fire Safety Managers and the Institution of Fire Engineers, Chief Fire Officers’ Association, Fire Officers’ Association, Fire Brigades’ Union, Association of Building Engineers and the Building Control Alliance.

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