Architectural institutes unite on fire safety design

The group’s formation is one of several measures being introduced by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA), the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), the Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW) and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) to improve building-related fire safety in response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report.   

This co-ordinated body will work to ensure that fire safety standards “go beyond national boundaries” and that architects working in all jurisdictions are “equally competent” to design buildings that conform to the highest levels of fire safety and life protection.

The Belfast Group members have made a joint commitment to work with Governments in their respective nations to push for architects to have “unfettered access” to all the relevant national regulations, standards and technical information that they need to design the safest buildings possible in any of the five jurisdictions.

Along with standards for architects, The Belfast Group will also develop guidance to help ensure construction professionals have standardised fire and life safety information to hand in order to enable them to make more informed decisions about procurement and the overall resourcing of build projects.

Joint statement

In a joint statement, the five presidents representing The Belfast Group – namely Muyiwa Oki (RIBA), John Lavery (RSUA), Karen Anderson (RIAS), Dan Benham (RSAW) and Sean Mahon (RIAI) said: “The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report makes clear that more is required to ensure our buildings are as safe as possible. This is relevant for every architect. While each jurisdiction has its own regulatory framework, there are core competencies when it comes to designing for life safety that transcend political boundaries and project typologies.”

The statement continues: “The Belfast Group will share Best Practice, knowledge and information in design standards for life safety. This co-ordination will ensure that appropriate training and competency standards are implemented across each nation.”

In conclusion, the five presidents stated: “We continue to work with our relevant Governments to ensure that our members have access to all the regulations, standards and technical information they need, while also providing guidance to clients on how to support the procurement and resourcing of projects such that life safety is at the heart of the appointment process. These steps will help in delivering safer buildings for all.”

*Further information is available online at www.architecture.com