Building Safety and Regulations Flashcards
What was the main material responsible for the rapid spread of the Grenfell Tower fire?
Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding with a polyethylene core.
Why was the cladding used in Grenfell Tower unsafe?
It was highly flammable, did not meet fire safety standards, and was chosen for aesthetic purposes without proper fire safety consideration.
- No fire block between levels
Why was the lack of sprinkler systems a major issue in Grenfell Tower?
The 24-story building lacked sprinklers, which are crucial for containing fires in high-rise buildings. Retrofitting sprinklers is recommended but was not mandated.
How did faulty fire doors contribute to the Grenfell Tower fire?
The fire doors failed to contain smoke and flames, allowing them to spread between flats and corridors.
- Death toll increased due to smoke infilation on the staircase as well as other levels and flats.
What was wrong with the building regulations at the time of the Grenfell fire?
Approved Document B of the UK Building Regulations was outdated and ambiguous, allowing unsafe materials and practices to be used.
How did the enforcement of building regulations fail at Grenfell Tower?
What did the inspectors lack?
Local authorities failed to enforce compliance during refurbishment, and inspectors lacked the expertise or resources to evaluate fire safety effectively.
Why did the stay-put policy fail during the Grenfell fire?
The policy advised residents to remain in their flats, but it was unsuitable for a large-scale fire that spread beyond the buildings compartmentation design.
How did the refurbishment process at Grenfell contribute to the fire?
The refurbishment from 2014 to 2016 prioritized cost-cutting over safety, resulting in poor coordination among subcontractors and unsafe materials being used.
What role did risk assessments play in the Grenfell Tower fire?
Fire risk assessments failed to identify the danger posed by the combustible cladding and other materials.
How did the lack of resident voice contribute to the tragedy?
Residents had raised safety concerns about the building, but these complaints were ignored by building managers and local authorities.
Why was the lack of secondary escape routes significant?
The building had no alternative evacuation routes, leaving residents trapped when the primary staircase became impassable.
What was the key finding of Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review?
The review found a “race to the bottom” culture in building safety practices, with cost-cutting prioritized over safety.
What did the Hackitt Review recommend about regulations?
It called for a simpler and clearer regulatory framework with well-defined accountability.
What is the Building Safety Act 2022, and why is it important?
Who do they need to do the job?
A legislative reform introduced to improve safety in high-risk buildings, including establishing a Building Safety Regulator that mandates safety case reviews.
What is the purpose of the Golden Thread of information?
To maintain accurate, digital records of safety-critical information throughout a buildings lifecycle for transparency and accountability.
