Industry responds to Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 final report

In a statement sent to Fire Safety Matters, the Fire Sector Federation has commented: “We welcome the publication of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report, which is another significant milestone on the journey towards creating the best possible standards of fire safety in our society. We continue to bear a heavy responsibility to the victims and their families that the lessons of the tragedy on 14 June 2017 are learned and lead to meaningful change that will honour the victims’ memory.”

The Federation concluded: “We will now take some time to work through the report and its recommendations with our members and translate the findings of the document into actions that will make our society safer by developing policy to prevent a tragedy like this from ever being repeated.”

National Fire Chiefs Council chair Mark Hardingham explained: “The 72 people who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire are at the forefront of our minds as we read today’s report. We know how difficult and painful it will be for members of their families and loved ones reading the document. While no words can ever lessen their grief, our thoughts are with them and all those who continue to be affected by the fire.”

Hardingham added: “We also reflect on the actions of the firefighters, Emergency Services workers and members of the local community who responded to the fire. They faced indescribably harrowing scenes and we remember their selflessness and bravery.”

Further, Hardingham observed: “Fire and Rescue Services are better prepared to respond to fires in high-rise residential buildings since the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 report was published, but we must continue to reflect and learn from the systemic failures that led to the loss of 72 lives.”

According to Hardingham: “It’s the responsibility of the NFCC as the professional voice of Fire and Rescue Services and the sector, to learn from the issues leading up to the incident, the actions on the night of the fire and what has happened since and continue to correct what went wrong. We will focus all of our efforts on what we must do either better or differently such that we never again see anything like the Grenfell Tower fire.”

In conclusion, Hardingham noted: “We will carefully consider all of the recommendations outlined in the report, giving them our full attention, while in tandem continuing to work with partners in Government and across and beyond the Fire and Rescue Service sector as we press for significant improvement and reform on behalf of our communities.”

“Grief, anger and vindication”

Also responding to the Phase 2 final report, Matt Wrack (general secretary of the FBU) said: “Today is a sobering reminder of the tragic deaths of 72 people and the deep scar that the Grenfell Tower fire has left on the community. The FBU shares the grief and anger of the bereaved, survivors and residents. We call for justice for those who were killed by this entirely preventable fire.”  

Wrack added: “The FBU has always argued that the fire was the result of decades of failure by central Government to regulate the building industry: the prioritisation of private profit over human life. This report completely vindicates that position, demonstrating beyond doubt that an agenda of deregulation has cost lives. Construction companies ‘gamed’ the system to maximise their profits. A system of semi-privatised Building Control put commercial interests ahead of regulatory duties.”  

Further, Wrack opined: “Firefighters and fire Control Room staff were put in an impossible position by being forced to respond to a fire in a high-rise building that was effectively wrapped in petrol. Again and again, residents and firefighters warned of the dangers of combustible cladding, but their voices were ignored.”  

The FBU is still digesting the contents of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Panel’s Phase 2 report and its recommendations, but suggests the Government “must go further” than what is set out in this document. “The deregulation of recent decades must be comprehensively reversed,” asserted Wrack. “The systems for delivering building safety must be brought under public ownership and be given the resources they need.”

Concluding the FBU’s statement, Wrack stated: “The lessons of the Grenfell Tower fire are relevant to Fire and Rescue Services right across the UK. In order to implement effective change, we need national standards set by a statutory advisory body on fire policy, giving a voice to firefighters and Control Room staff and drawing on the best expert advice. Seven years on from this horrific event, our thoughts and solidarity remain with the victims of the fire.”

Thorough review

The IFE welcomes the release of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report, which of course is the result of an extensive Public Inquiry. The report has “significant relevance” to the Institution’s members, both here in the UK and internationally, where recommendations from the extensive document will shape – and impact on – fire safety practices worldwide.

The IFE has noted: “As fire professionals, our thoughts remain with all those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire and those who lost their lives in the tragedy. Over the coming days, the Institution will conduct a thorough review of the report in its entirety to fully understand the areas that concern our membership and the global fire safety agenda. We will then consider the report’s findings and identify those areas where the Institution can positively assist in implementing the recommendations as soon as is practicably possible.”

In addition, the IFE has asserted: “The complexity of the report will doubtless require a collaborative approach from a range of organisations and bodies. Arrangements are already in place to host an event at the IFE’s international headquarters in early October when we will facilitate discussion with key invited UK leaders in fire safety to ensure a mutual awareness of our respective plans. Crucially, we will also seek to jointly identify where the best collaborative actions can be prioritised.”

Further, the IFE has observed: “Through all of this, our goal is to carefully assess how we can implement the report’s recommendations in order to drive meaningful improvements and advancements in fire safety practices and professional standards worldwide, in turn assisting our members within the fire safety industry. We appreciate the support of our members and the fire safety community as we navigate these crucial next steps.”

Construction sector

Caroline Gumble, CEO at the CIOB, commented: “We very much welcome the publication of the final report into the Grenfell Tower fire and will be reading it in detail to understand the implications for the construction sector in the UK. Improving the safety of buildings must be a priority. Although some progress has been made with the introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022 and the Fire Safety Act 2021, there is still much work to be done.”

Gumble also said: “We are committed to working with others across the industry to follow up on the recommendations made in the report. Every step possible must be taken to ensure such a tragedy, which has impacted the lives of so many people, can never happen again.”

Post-Grenfell, the CPA has consistently called for action on regulatory reforms and cultural change. The organisation wants to see more clarification of roles and responsibilities, steps to improve quality, processes and standards and a change in terms of how the industry engages with built environment users and the residents of buildings.

There has been progress. According to the CPA, the Code for Construction Product Information “significantly improves” the information provided about product performance, making sure product information is clear, accurate, accessible, up-to-date and unambiguous.

Many construction businesses have implemented new quality assurance processes and invested in digital tools to drive greater oversight, while also building an essential golden thread of information. Importantly, there has been a sustained effort to drive greater levels of competence within the sector.

“The CPA will continue to play its part in pushing for cultural change in construction and the continued enforcement of the Building Safety Act 2022, including consideration of all those many small steps along the way that make any improvement possible.”

Architectural profession

The Architects Registration Board has observed: “The Grenfell Tower fire was a national tragedy and one of the UK’s worst modern disasters. On this day, we remember those who died and are acutely aware of the suffering of all those who have been impacted.”

The organisation’s statement continues: “The public expects architects to always act ethically and in the interest of public safety. They must take accountability for their design work and raise, without fear, any concerns they may have. Informed by Dame Judith Hackitt’s earlier recommendations and enabled by new legislation in the Building Safety Act 2022, we have introduced a new mandatory scheme for Continuing Professional Development, which will apply to all registered architects.”

The Architects Registration Board has also developed new Competency Outcomes that all providers of Architects Registration Board-accredited qualifications in architecture must meet.

Further, the organisation said: “The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 final report recommends that we review the changes we have already made to the training and education of architects to ensure they are sufficient in the light of the Inquiry’s findings. We will do this and will publish our assessment.”

The report also finds that the architects appointed on the Grenfell Tower refurbishment “fell significantly below the standard reasonably to be expected.” The Inquiry has expressed concerns that this may be widespread within the profession. “We will consider those findings in further detail, and take into account the involvement of other authorities with prosecuting powers before deciding what further action may be required.”

The Architects Registration Board is “taking time” to consider the whole of the report, including in particular the need to ensure a profound shift in culture and behaviour in the built environment sector.

Deepest sympathies

In a statement sent to Fire Safety Matters, insulation systems manufacturer Kingspan has observed: “Today is another extremely difficult day for the relatives and survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire and we extend our deepest sympathies to those impacted by the tragedy.”

The company continued: “We welcome the publication of today’s report, which is crucial to a public understanding of what went wrong and why. It explains clearly and unambiguously that the type of insulation (whether combustible or non-combustible) was immaterial, and that the principal reason for the fire spread was the PE ACM cladding, which was not made by Kingspan.”

Additionally, the statement reads: “Kingspan has long acknowledged the wholly unacceptable historical failings that occurred in part of our UK insulation business. These were in no way reflective of how we conduct ourselves as a Group, either then or now. While deeply regrettable, they were not found to be causative of the tragedy.”

In conclusion, the company has commented: “Kingspan has already emphatically addressed these issues, including the implementation of extensive and externally verified measures to ensure our conduct and compliance standards are world-leading. We remain committed to playing a leading role in providing safe and sustainable building solutions, including continuing to work with Government and industry partners.”

Mark Snelling, president of the APS, said: “Today, we received the Phase 2 report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. In the coming days, we will forensically study the report’s findings and then be in a position to make a more detailed assessment. Following this morning’s events, what’s clear is that the findings and recommendations contained within this report are of critical importance to the future of the UK’s built environment.”

He added: “The scale of the Grenfell Tower tragedy will profoundly impact the approach to future safety regimes in the construction sector. The report reinforces an APS commitment to ensure the safety of those living in our communities is always robustly upheld. This is a catalyst for change.”

Legal sector comment

Andrew Parker, head of construction disputes and building safety practices at law firm Forsters, explained: “A key finding is that, as far back as 1991, Government was given plenty of warning of the risks of combustible cladding panels and insulation, particularly so on high-rise buildings, and so had opportunities to take action, but failed to do so.”

Foster continued: “The arrangements for procuring works to higher-risk buildings have been found to be deficient. There’s a clear message that the way in which key members of the construction industry have been regulated and trained needs to change, while guidance provided by Government for compliance with the relevant legislation needs to be improved. Regulation of the construction industry has become too complex and fragmented.”

Further, he said: “There will be tighter regulation of fire engineers and contractors which, depending on the timescale for implementation, may squeeze an already resource-starved area of the industry.”

In addition, Parker commented: “Although no express requirements have been placed on architects, the Architects Registration Board and the Royal Institute of British Architects have been encouraged to review the changes they’ve already implemented for the education and training of architects and, when taken in the context of the Inquiry’s finding that there may have been a “widespread failure” among the architectural profession, the review that has been recommended may well lead to tighter regulation of architects as well.”

Parker said: “There are no additional requirements being placed on clients who commission building work, but we can expect the already-introduced compliance statement signed by clients to be strictly enforced following its endorsement by the Inquiry.”

He concluded: “There’s an emphasis on protecting vulnerable people in whatever building they are in, not determined necessarily by the height of the structure. A review of the definition of a higher-risk building will bring a larger number of buildings within the scope of the strict requirements introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022. Fire safety strategies will need to be reviewed and, possibly, amended in order to take account of the needs of vulnerable individuals as well as the nature of a given building’s use.”