Grenfell and Fire Safety Flashcards
What’s changed in the industry since grenfell?
Change of building regulations:
- No combustible materials in the external walls for buildings over 18m
- Sprinklers for all buildings above 11m
Hackitt Review
Fire Safety Bill / Fire Safety Act 2021
Routine checks of fire doors
Review of fire alarm system
What is the Hackitt Report? What recommendations were made?
A number of experts appointed by the government to carry out an independent review of the building regulations and fire safety
Found the current regulatory system wasnt fit for purpose, left room for shortcuts
Recommendations:
- Package of building information to be produced for each high rise resi building to demonstrate the safety of the building to the regulator
- Dutyholders
- Penalties for those who try and game the system
- Higher standard of building construction
- Ensure competency and best practice
What happened with Grenfell?
Fire began shortly after 1am, 14th June 2017
72 deaths
Fridge caught fire, spread to cladding
How was Grenfell non-compliant with building regulations?
- Cladding (Aluminium composite material)
- Windows non-compliant with temperatures
- No wet riser
- Broken fire fighting lift
- Fire doors did not shut automatically
What was the Government response?
- Updates to Part B
- Fire tests for non-ACM cladding materials
- Confirmation of the fire safety bill
What was the RICS response to Grenfell?
Comprehensive guidance on fire safety
Introduction of the EWS1 Form
What was the RICS response to Grenfell?
Comprehensive guidance on fire safety
Guidance on valuing properties with cladding
Introduction of the EWS1 Form
RICS is working with Government and other stakeholders as part of the Fire Safety Bill, which is due to gain Royal Assent in 2021
In addition, in January 2021, RICS launched a new training programme for chartered building surveyors and chartered building control surveyors, to enable them to undertake external wall system assessments for low to medium rise residential buildings.
RICS has secured government funding to train up to 2,000 professionals within six months.
What is the EWS1 process / form?
The EWS process is a set way for a building owner to confirm that an external wall system on residential buildings has been assessed for safety by a suitable expert
EWS1 process delivers assurance for lenders, valuers, residents, buyers and sellers
Involves a qualified professional conducting a fire-risk assessment on the external wall system before signing an EWS1 Form, which is valid for the entire building for 5 years
When the Fire Safety Bill comes into force, the building owners of all multi-storey, multi-occupied buildings in England will be required to undertake fire risk appraisals and assessments of their buildings, which includes, where appropriate, an assessment of the external wall system.
Does each flat/ apartment have to get an individual EWS1 form for selling, buying, or re-mortgaging?
No, 1 EWS form per building
Can the buyer or seller initiate the EWS process if the building owner has not?
The EWS process/ form is for building owners to undertake. Both sellers and buyers should be in contact with the building owner or their agent to ensure this takes place as quickly as possible.
If the building owner will not undertake the required assessment, what can the owner/lender/valuer do?
Local council can provide further advice
Refer to Fire and Rescue Service
Building owners have a clear responsibility to arrange for the wall system to be checked
Who carries out the EWS assessment, and what is their expertise?
Fully qualified member of the relevant professional body
Sufficient expertise in external wall cladding systems
Why is an EWS assessment required every five years?
Five years is intended to capture any renovation or adaptation work done to the building, as well as maintenance over that period.
However, a new EWS assessment may be required within the five-year period if substantial works have been completed to a property, affecting the original conclusions.
Why are lenders asking for EWS1 forms below 18m?
Changes in Government advice in January 2020, bringing all residential buildings into scope, mean some residential buildings below 18m may now require an EWS1 form. For buildings of five or six storeys, there could be a significant amount of cladding on the building, or a check could be due to the types of panels on the building. For buildings of four storeys or fewer, there may be present the most dangerous types of cladding present.
What cladding system was used on Tolworth?
o Tyvec cladding
o Fire resistant material to façade
o Non-combustible insulation
