“Bolder action needed to deliver safer, more inclusive buildings” states NFCC

The NFCC has consistently called for a modern, inclusive and accountable building safety system, warning that parts of the current guidance have not kept pace with modern construction methods, changes in building use or the needs of what is a diverse and ageing population.

Reiterating the recommendations made in its Building Regulations and Guidance Position Statement issued last December, the NFCC has welcomed a number of measures set out in the recent Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) consultation on proposed changes to Approved Document B, the statutory guidance that supports fire safety requirements within the Building Regulations.

In its response to the consultation, a number of measures aimed at improving clarity and strengthening fire safety standards were welcomed by NFCC, but the organisation urges further reform designed to address longstanding issues identified in its Position Statement.

The NFCC believes the consultation proposals represent progress in some areas, particularly so through the introduction of guidance on evacuation lifts (an issue the organisation has consistently raised). However, the NFCC believes the changes fall short of the more fundamental reforms needed to ensure buildings are designed around the needs of occupants and actively support the Government’s ambition for everyone to reach a place of safety in an emergency without external assistance.

The NFCC is urging the Government to use the consultation as part of a wider programme of reform that delivers on the broader ambitions for building safety established following the Grenfell Tower fire and Dame Judith Hackitt’s subsequent Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

Evacuation lifts and sprinklers

Alongside welcoming a number of the Government’s proposals, the NFCC is calling for wider provision of evacuation lifts to support residents who are unable to use stairs, thereby ensuring everyone can reach a place of safety without external assistance.

While the consultation proposes evacuation lifts in new residential buildings over 18 metres in height, the NFCC firmly believes safe evacuation should be based on people’s needs rather than the height of a building.

Further, the NFCC would like to see an increased use of sprinklers in specialised housing (encompassing premises with and without care provision) and a further review of fire safety requirements for car parks, including consideration of sprinkler systems and the risks associated with modern vehicles and electric vehicle infrastructure.

In addition, the NFCC is calling for greater clarity, research and testing around the use of modern methods of construction and combustible structural materials as well as completion of the wider Approved Document B review programme originally announced following the aforementioned 2018 Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

Buildings and people

Dave Russel, the NFCC’s lead on protection, observed: “It’s encouraging to see progress in a number of areas, particularly in terms of the introduction of guidance on evacuation lifts, which is something the NFCC has been calling for over many years.”

Russel continued: “However, this is 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. At its heart, this is about people. Buildings should be suitable for the people who live in them rather than people having to be suitable for the buildings they occupy. When someone needs to escape a fire, their safety should not depend on whether a building was designed with their needs in mind.”

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