Grenfell Tower – Review of Building Regulations and Standards

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government recently published the following:

Open consultation:  Technical review of Approved Document B of the building regulations: a call for evidence – this consultation now closes on 15 March 2019 – call for evidence seeking views on the future technical guidance contained within Approved Document B (fire safety).

Guidance:  Aluminium composite material cladding – information and advice for building owners, landlords and leaseholders where aluminium composite cladding is present on their building.  Added Building Safety Programme: monthly data release – February 2019

Research and analysis:  Building Safety Programme: monthly data release – February 2019 – the 16th monthly data release from the government’s Building Safety Programme.

Guidance:  Housing health and safety rating system: assessment of high-rise residential buildings with cladding systems – operating guidance addendum on the assessment of high-rise residential buildings with cladding systems.  Added a worked example which provides guidance and illustrates how the addendum to the HHSRS operating guidance can be used for a high rise building with unsafe ACM cladding.

Collection:  Housing health and safety rating system (HHSRS) guidance – this series brings together all documents relating to Housing health and safety rating system (HHSRS) guidance.  Added note on ‘Local authority enforcement powers under the Housing Act 2004’.

Guidance: Local authority enforcement powers under the Housing Act 2004 – note on local authority enforcement powers available for action on high-rise residential buildings with unsafe Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding.

Guidance:  Fire door investigation – the government is undertaking an investigation into the fire door industry and has issued guidance to building owners and occupiers.  Added information on GRP (glass reinforced plastic) composite fire door tests.

Guidance:  Fire door testing: GRP composite test results – summary test results from the government’s investigation into Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) composite fire doors.

Research and analysis:  Building Safety Programme: monthly data release – January 2019 – the 15th monthly data release from the government’s Building Safety Programme.

Guidance: The Building Safety Programme – the government has established a comprehensive Building Safety Programme to ensure that residents of high-rise blocks of flats are safe and feel safe, now and in the future.  Added link to ‘Advice note 20 – Advice for owners of buildings with smoke control systems’.

Guidance:  Advice for owners of buildings with smoke control systems – this advice note provides advice to building owners on the maintenance of smoke control systems.

Guidance:  Aluminium composite material cladding – information and advice for building owners, landlords and leaseholders where aluminium composite cladding is present on their building.  Added Building Safety Programme: monthly data release – January 2019.

Guidance:  Grenfell Tower fire: support for people affected – information about the support available for people affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy on 14 June 2017.  Updated Home Office Grenfell immigration policies section to provide more information.

Research and analysis:  Compartment size, resistance to fire and fire safety research – the department commissioned the Building Research Establishment to carry out a project on compartment size, resistance to fire and fire safety – these are the findings from 7 work streams.

Statistical data set:  Live tables on Energy Performance of Buildings Certificates – the latest data tables on Energy Performance of Buildings Certificates.

Official Statistics:  Energy Performance of Buildings Certificates in England and Wales: 2008 to December 2018 – experimental statistics on Energy Performance of Buildings Certificates in England and Wales.

Collection:  Energy Performance of Buildings Certificates – information and publications from certificates held on the Energy Performance of Buildings Register.  Added Energy Performance of Buildings Certificates in England and Wales: 2008 to December 2018.

The House of Commons Select Committee on Housing, Communities and Local Government held a one-off session with Housing Minister, Kit Malthouse MP, and Dame Judith Hackitt, Chair of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety on 28 Jan 2019.  The focus of the session is to examine Government progress on the implementation of the findings of the Hackitt Review.

Committee investigates building regulations and fire safety     which you can view online:   https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/c1941b43-6384-4a88-89b3-03a7b7551498

Collection:  Building regulations: divisional circular letters – guidance about changes to building regulations policy. Only applies to England.  Added circular letter on nearly zero energy buildings requirements for new public buildings.

Research and analysis:  Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: second cost optimal assessment – second cost optimal assessment for the United Kingdom (excluding Gibraltar).

Correspondence:  Nearly zero energy buildings requirements for new public buildings – this circular letter informs building control bodies about nearly zero energy buildings requirements for new public buildings.

Collection:  Grenfell Tower – information relating to the fire at Grenfell Tower.  Added update letter to residents on developments in response to the Grenfell Tower fire: 11 January 2019

Correspondence:  Update letter to residents on developments in response to the Grenfell Tower fire: 11 January 2019 – Secretary of State for Communities, the Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP and the Minister for Grenfell Victims write to residents.

Guidance:  The Building Safety Programme – the government has established a comprehensive Building Safety Programme to ensure that residents of high-rise blocks of flats are safe and feel safe, now and in the future.  Added information on the Industry Safety Steering Group and its terms of reference.

Guidance:  Building Safety Programme – the programme was established to make sure that residents of high-rise buildings are safe – and feel safe – now, and in the future.  Added Industry Safety Steering Group information.

Guidance:  Aluminium composite material cladding – information and advice for building owners, landlords and leaseholders where aluminium composite cladding is present on their building.  Added Building Safety Programme: monthly data release – December 2018.

Research and analysis:  Building Safety Programme: monthly data release – December 2018 – the 14th monthly data release from the government’s building safety programme.

Guidance:  The Building Safety Programme – the government has established a comprehensive Building Safety Programme to ensure that residents of high-rise blocks of flats are safe and feel safe, now and in the future.  Added link to updated Advice note 14 – Advice for building owners: external wall systems that do not incorporate ACM.

Collection:  Building regulations: circulars – this collection brings together all circulars related to the building regulations.  Added Approved Document B volume 1 and volume 2: circular 03/2018.

Collection:  Building regulations: divisional circular letters – guidance about changes to building regulations policy. Only applies to England.  Added Approved Document B volume 1 and volume 2: circular 03/2018.

Press release:  Continuity of requirements under the Construction Products Regulation when the UK leaves the European Union – the government has published a statutory instrument in relation to the Construction Products Regulation regime in the UK.

Collection:  Grenfell Tower – information relating to the fire at Grenfell Tower.  Added third report from the Independent Grenfell Recovery Taskforce and letter to members of the Grenfell Recovery Taskforce.

Guidance:  Advice for building owners: external wall systems that do not incorporate ACM – advice for building owners on external wall systems that do not incorporate Aluminium Composite Material.  Updated advice for building owners: external wall systems that do not incorporate ACM

Independent report:  Third report from the Independent Grenfell Recovery Taskforce: 21 November 2018 – the Taskforce submitted their third report to the Secretary of State on 21 November 2018.

Correspondence:  Letter to the Grenfell Recovery Taskforce: 14 December 2018 – letter from the Secretary of State for Communities, the Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP to the Independent Grenfell Recovery Taskforce.

Impact assessment:  Assessments in lieu of tests consultation: impact assessment – impact assessment on the amendments to statutory guidance on assessments in lieu of tests – Approved Document B (fire safety).

Correspondence:  Approved Document B volume 1 and volume 2: circular 03/2018 – this circular draws attention to the amendments to Approved Document B volume 1 and Approved Document B volume 2.

Open consultation:  Good practice on how residents and landlords work together to keep their home and building safe: call for evidence – the Govt seeks views from residents and landlords/building managers on how residents are supported to meet their responsibilities.  This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 12 February 2019

Statutory guidance:  Fire safety: Approved Document B – Building regulation in England covering fire safety matters within and around buildings.  Added 2018 amendments to Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 1 and volume 2.

Open consultation:  Technical review of Approved Document B of the building regulations: a call for evidence – Call for evidence seeking views on the future technical guidance contained within Approved Document B (fire safety).  This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 1 March 2019

Consultation outcome:  Approved Document B (fire safety): amendments to statutory guidance on assessments in lieu of tests (‘desktop studies’). Added the summary of responses and government response to the consultation on amendments to statutory guidance on assessments in lieu of tests in Approved Document B.

Press release:  Brokenshire introduces tougher regulatory system for building safety – a stronger and more effective regulatory framework is being introduced to improve building safety.

Policy paper:  Building a safer future: an implementation plan – this plan sets out the government’s programme of work to ensure people who live in residential high-rise buildings are safe and feel safe, now and in the future.

Collection:  Grenfell Tower – information relating to the fire at Grenfell Tower.  Added update letter to residents on developments in response to the Grenfell Tower fire: 13 December 2018

Correspondence:  Update letter to residents on developments in response to the Grenfell Tower fire: 13 December 2018 – Secretary of State for Communities, the Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP and the Minister for Grenfell Victims write to residents.

Guidance:  Aluminium composite material cladding – information and advice for building owners, landlords and leaseholders where aluminium composite cladding is present on their building.  Added link to Building Safety Programme: monthly data release – November 2018

Research and analysis:  Building Safety Programme: monthly data release – November 2018 – the 13th monthly data release from the government’s building safety programme.

Guidance:  Building Safety Programme – the programme was established to make sure that residents of high-rise buildings are safe – and feel safe – now, and in the future – added further information on the ban on combustible materials.

Guidance:  Ban on combustible materials – the government is banning combustible materials on new high-rise homes and giving support to local authorities to carry out emergency work to remove and replace unsafe aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding.

Guidance:  Social Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund: application guidance – guide for social landlords who can apply for funding to assist with replacing Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding systems on their social residential buildings – added amended guidance document to include updated cladding system requirements to reflect the government’s ban on combustible materials on high-rise homes.

Guidance:  Soil and environmental checks – details on the soil and environmental checks around Grenfell Tower – added ‘Science Advisory Group: terms of reference’ and ‘Grenfell environmental checks: next steps’.

Guidance:  Grenfell environmental checks: next steps – the government is leading a team of experts to carry out checks on the soil around Grenfell Tower. This document provides guidance on next steps.

Collection:  Housing health and safety rating system (HHSRS) guidance – this series brings together all documents relating to Housing health and safety rating system (HHSRS) guidance – added Housing health and safety rating system: assessment of high-rise residential buildings with cladding systems.

Guidance:  Housing health and safety rating system: assessment of high-rise residential buildings with cladding systems – operating guidance addendum on the assessment of high-rise residential buildings with cladding systems.

Collection:  Grenfell Tower – information relating to the fire at Grenfell Tower – added a link to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s Position Statement on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry website.

Collection:  Building regulations: circulars – this collection brings together all circulars related to the building regulations – added Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018: Circular 02/2018.

Collection:  Building regulations: divisional circular letters – guidance about changes to building regulations policy. Only applies to England – added Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018: Circular 02/2018.

Guidance:  Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018: Circular 02/2018 – this circular draws attention to the publication of the Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018 and amended guidance.

Statutory guidance:  Fire safety: Approved Document B – building regulation in England covering fire safety matters within and around buildings – added 2018 amendment to Approved Document B (fire safety) volume 2: buildings other than dwelling houses – amendments to statutory guidance covering fire safety matters within and around buildings in England.

Statutory guidance:  Material and workmanship: Approved Document 7 – building regulation for England setting out the standards of the building materials and skills used – added 2018 amendment to Approved Document 7: material and workmanship.

Impact assessment:  Ban on combustible materials in external wall systems: impact assessment – impact assessment on the proposed changes to the Building (Amendment) Regulations 2018 and 2 amended Approved Documents.

Consultation outcome:  Banning the use of combustible materials in the external walls of high-rise residential buildings – added government response to the consultation: banning the use of combustible materials in the external walls of high-rise residential buildings.

Guidance:  Data collection tracking ACM remediation progress: new burdens assessment – a new burdens assessment for the reporting of ACM remediation data by local authorities.

Press release:  Government bans combustible materials on high-rise homes – the government is banning combustible materials on new high-rise homes and giving support to local authorities to carry out emergency remediation work.

Guidance:  Soil and environmental checks – details on the soil and environmental checks around Grenfell Tower.

Guidance:  The Building Safety Programme – the government has established a comprehensive Building Safety Programme to ensure that residents of high-rise blocks of flats are safe and feel safe, now and in the future.

Guidance:  Building Safety Programme: letters – letters from the Building Safety Programme, established to make sure that residents of high-rise buildings are safe and feel safe, now and in the future.

Guidance: Building Safety Programme: announcements – announcements from the Building Safety Programme, established to make sure that residents of high-rise buildings are safe and feel safe, now and in the future.

Guidance:  Building Safety Programme: other fire safety concerns – information and advice for leaseholders, occupiers and building owners about other fire safety concerns raised following the Grenfell Tower fire.

Guidance:  Aluminium composite material cladding – information and advice for building owners, landlords and leaseholders where aluminium composite cladding is present on their building.

Guidance:  Building Safety Programme – added information about the government’s fire door investigation.

Guidance:  Fire door investigation – the government is undertaking an investigation into the fire door industry and has issued guidance to building owners and occupiers.

Guidance:  Building Safety Programme – added Building Safety Programme: monthly data release – end October 2018.

Research and analysis:  Building Safety Programme: monthly data release – end October 2018 – the 12th monthly data release from the government’s building safety programme.

Guidance:  Building Safety Programme – added letter in response to Steve Reed MP and others on delivering building safety through the announced ban on combustible materials in the external walls of high-rise residential buildings.

Correspondence:  Combustible building materials: letter of response to Steve Reed MP and others – 7 November 2018 – letter from the Secretary of State on delivering building safety through the announced ban on combustible materials in the external walls of high-rise residential buildings.

Press release:  Statement regarding Grenfell Tower video – Government condemns Grenfell Tower video on social media.

Press release:  Further environmental checks for Grenfell site – additional environmental checks are to be carried out in and around the Grenfell Tower site to provide extra reassurance to survivors and local residents.

Guidance: Building Safety Programme – added Building Safety Programme: monthly data release – October 2018

Research and analysis:  Building Safety Programme: monthly data release – October 2018 – the 11th monthly data release from the government’s building safety programme.

Guidance:  Building Safety Programme – added Advice Note 19 for owners of buildings which include spandrel panels/window panels/infill panels.

Guidance:  Advice for building owners: external wall systems that do not incorporate ACM – advice for building owners on external wall systems that do not incorporate Aluminium Composite Material – the advice note has been updated to include a section on spandrel panels.

Guidance:  Building Safety Programme – added Announcement 32 – Government releases funding to replace unsafe cladding – 17 October 2018.

News story:  Funding released to make social sector homes safe – 12 councils and 31 housing associations will receive funding for the removal and replacement of unsafe aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding from 135 buildings.

Press release:  Government releases funding to replace unsafe cladding – the government has released the first tranche of an estimated £400 million to remove and replace unsafe cladding on social sector high-rise housing.

Collection:  Grenfell Tower – information relating to the fire at Grenfell Tower – added ‘Letter to Grenfell United following concerns about the possibility of soil contamination: 15 October 2018’.

Correspondence:  Letter to Grenfell United following concerns about the possibility of soil contamination: 15 October 2018 – Housing Secretary the Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP and the Minister for Grenfell Victims the Rt Hon Nick Hurd MP have written to Grenfell United.

Guidance:  Building Safety Programme – added ‘Advice note 18 – Advice for owners of buildings which are partially clad in Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding systems – 28 September 2018’.

Guidance:  Advice for owners of buildings which are partially clad in Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding systems – advice note for owners of buildings which are partially clad in Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding systems.

Guidance:  Building Safety Programme – added Building Safety Programme: monthly data release – September 2018.

Collection:  Building safety: independent expert advisory panel – expert panel appointed to advise on immediate safety action following the Grenfell Tower fire – the list of the core members of the expert panel has been updated.

Policy paper:  Building safety: independent expert advisory panel – terms of reference – terms of reference of the expert panel appointed to advise on immediate safety action following the Grenfell Tower fire – the terms of reference have been updated.

Collection: Grenfell Tower – Added Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission update letter: 17 September 2018.

Correspondence:  Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission update letter: 17 September 2018 – letter from the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, to the chair of the Select Committee on Building Regulations and Fire Safety.

Press release:  Memorial Commission to honour victims of Grenfell Tower fire – a community-led Memorial Commission is to be set up so that community members can decide on the long-term future of the Grenfell Tower site.

Guidance:  Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission: terms of reference – terms of reference for the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission.

Correspondence:  Assessments of external wall cladding systems – this circular letter informs building control bodies about issues arising from assessments of external wall cladding systems.

You may like to read about the Public Inquiry into the fire at Grenfell Tower in Kensington and some related articles:
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Grenfell_Tower_Inquiry

Lives of the residents of Grenfell Tower were not protected by existing standards, certifications, regulations and processes which are listed here:
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Category:Regulations
https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Category:Standards_/_measurements

You can send an email to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, Building Regulations and Energy Performance Division at  enquiries.br@communities.gsi.gov.uk