Building sector bodies reflect on Grenfell Inquiry Panel’s observations

In a comment piece issued on its website, the CIC observes: “Publication of the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry is a long-awaited milestone in the response to the tragic loss of 72 lives in June 2017. It’s another difficult and traumatic moment for the bereaved, the survivors and relatives of the Grenfell Tower victims and the CIC recognises once again all that they have suffered. We extend our sympathy once more to all of the victims.”

Further, the CIC notes: “Sir Martin Moore-Bick has made many recommendations for further action in the report, based on a careful analysis of the evidence presented to the Inquiry by hundreds of witnesses and in hundreds of thousands of documents. The CIC and its member organisations are now reviewing the full report and its recommendations and carefully considering the further actions that we will need to take.”

Interestingly, the CIC explains: “While much work has already been done through the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety undertaken by Dame Judith Hackitt and the consequent programme of regulatory reform that has been introduced, and which the industry is working hard to implement, Sir Martin has clearly identified several further matters that require attention. The CIC will be working with its members, the wider industry and Government to develop appropriate responses to those matters, ensuring that they are given the critical and expedient attention they demand.”

In addition, the CIC highlights: “It will take time to give the thought and consideration that the report requires and for the action that’s needed to address the various recommendations Sir Martin has brought forward. It’s essential that Government and the construction sector recognise the findings he has reported and that we learn the lessons and continue to respond in order to create an industry and a culture where safety, competence and compliance with the law is an absolute priority. Only then will public trust in the sector be restored.”

By way of conclusion, the statement reads: “The CIC believes that every construction professional should fully familiarise themselves with the report and its recommendations. We will work closely with our members to facilitate this process as we develop an appropriate and detailed response to the report.”

Supportive of findings

BESA has welcomed the publication of the final report into the Grenfell Tower tragedy, duly affirming that the 1,700-page document complete with a 24-page Executive Summary it should “add greater urgency” to promised reforms of the construction industry and related engineering disciplines.

The Association also feels that the report should serve as a further reminder of the serious and wide-reaching impact of the Grenfell disaster. BESA also pays tribute to those who lost their lives, believing that it’s important to recognise the continued impact on residents and the immediate community.

“The Phase 2 report shines a light on the systemic failings that led to the tragedy. We must now work closely with the Government and other industry bodies to bring about the necessary culture change that would ensure similar disasters could not occur in the future.”

BESA thanks the Public Inquiry Panel for its diligence in investigating the root causes of the tragedy and particularly notes the comments of Inquiry Panel member and architect Thouria Istephan, who has called for a greater commitment to the development of professional skills.

“If we are not professionally curious,” states Istephan, “we will not become technically competent. If you work in the construction industry and don’t feel the weight of the responsibility you have for keeping people safe, then you are in the wrong job.”

No loss in momentum

While continued legislative change and regulatory reform is clearly required, BESA is “anxious” that there should be no loss in momentum on progress already being made under the Building Safety Act 2022, specifically around the need for everyone involved in construction to provide evidence of their competence and compliance.

The Association has already suspended companies from membership who have failed to meet their technical and professional obligations under the Building Safety Act and would not hesitate to do so again.

“The report reminds us that the industry’s operating model had evolved to a point where cutting cost was pursued at the expense of building safety and performance,” said CEO David Frise. “We must build on the progress made since the tragedy, evolving into an industry that can clearly demonstrate its competence and compliance in delivering a built environment that’s both safe and sustainable.”

BESA has also produced a summary of the key recommendations from the final report for practitioners in the building engineering sector.

“Significant and poignant moment”

According to the CIBSE, the release of the final report from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry stands as a “significant and poignant moment” in the ongoing reckoning with the devastating loss of 72 lives in June 2017.

“This is a deeply emotional and harrowing chapter for the bereaved, the survivors and the families of the Grenfell Tower victims. The CIBSE recognises the suffering that has persisted, and our hearts go out, once more, to all those whose lives were forever altered by this unimaginable tragedy.”

The CIBSE continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to building safety as the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in now published.

CIBSE technical director, Dr Anastasia Mylona, has commented: “The findings outlined in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report are both sobering and a stark reminder of the critical need for transparency, integrity and robust regulation within our industry. As the report highlights systemic failures, the CIBSE remains committed to driving the necessary reforms in building and fire safety engineering practices. Our role is to ensure that the highest standards are upheld, and also that the safety of residents is always the paramount concern in the built environment.”

The CIBSE has been actively involved in shaping the future of building safety through various initiatives and contributions:

Consultation and guidance

The CIBSE has been a key player in consultations on draft legislation and guidance, providing expert input to help shape the frameworks that will govern building safety for years to come.

Building safety focus at Build2Perform

Last year’s Build2Perform event had a significant focus on building safety, bringing together industry leaders to discuss and collaborate on enhancing safety standards across the sector.

Support for BS 8670

The CIBSE supported the British Standards Institution in developing BS 8670: Core Criteria for Building Safety Competence Frameworks, along with its supporting Publicly Available Specifications. These documents are vital in setting the standards for safety competence across the industry.

Active participation in Working Groups and Technical Committees

CIBSE staff and volunteers have been actively involved in various Working Groups and Technical Committees, contributing to the development of new legislation and guidance aimed at improving building safety.

Enhancing competence standards

The CIBSE has been instrumental in supporting the ‘Raising the Bar’ initiative and the updates to UK Spec 4, which include new and enhanced competence requirements published by The Engineering Council. These are aimed at engineers working on higher-risk buildings through contextualised registration, for which the CIBSE is licensed to assess candidates. The Discipline Annex for Building Services, written by CIBSE staff and volunteers, provides further guidance on these enhanced competence requirements.

Training and education

The CIBSE has been proactive in offering training courses, such as the ‘Introduction to the Building Safety Act’, which has seen strong attendance from professionals across various sectors in the built environment. These courses provide essential knowledge and insights into the new safety regulations and their implications for the industry.

Dedicated resource

Importantly, the CIBSE has established a Building Services Fire Safety Working Group to lead and inform the Institution’s technical guidance and responses to Government consultations.

“As the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry is set to provide further learning points, the CIBSE remains committed to driving much-needed change within the industry. The Institution will continue to support its members and the broader construction community in implementing the lessons learned from Grenfell and ensuring that building safety remains a top priority.

Bad project management practice

The APM is the only chartered organisation representing the project profession in the world with over 45,000 individual members and upwards of 450 corporate partners based across 140 countries.

It’s a professional membership organisation that sets the standards for the project profession and raises its profile. As a registered charity, the APM delivers learning and networking opportunities, qualifications, research, resources, events and Best Practice guidance for the project community, in turn helping the profession to deliver better results.

Gill Hancock, head of technical content at the APM, said: “Publication of the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry is a long-awaited milestone in the response to the tragic loss of 72 lives in June 2017. The APM would like to extend our sympathy to all the families impacted by this tragedy.”

Hancock continued: “As the chartered membership organisation for the project profession, APM is shocked by the report’s findings and the many examples of bad project management practice applied at Grenfell that contributed to the tragedy. These include numerous failures to appoint competent project professionals with the relevant training and experience of managing large projects such as the Grenfell Tower, not establishing the scope of the work to be undertaken before finalising the budget available or being clear on the focus of the project, the lack of project management capabilities, including no clear responsibilities, failure of information management and no change control and the appointment of sub-contractors and project teams whose constituent members didn’t have the relevant competence.”

Hancock went on to explain: “The competence framework for managing projects in the built environment, which the APM helped to create, is a good step on the journey towards ensuring that a tragedy like Grenfell never happens again. However, we acknowledge it’s only one step. Businesses operating in the built environment sector must recognise the importance of appointing dedicated project experts. They must also ensure these individuals are competent and have the right level of qualifications and training in place.”

The APM’s goal is to work with the public and private sector as a whole to ensure this understanding is embedded across industry such that businesses can be confident they are indeed appointing the right people to manage construction projects of all sizes.

“It will take time for the project profession to give careful consideration to the recommendations set out by Sir Martin Moore-Bick in the report and to ensure that lessons are learned,” concluded Hancock. “We will continue to work with our members, the wider industry and Government to develop appropriate responses and implement the necessary changes.”