UK and Ireland form joint group for fire and life safety design
Architectural institutes from across the UK and Republic of Ireland have agreed to coordinate on standardised guidance for fire and life safety design.
According to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Belfast Group will develop aligned resources for architects operating across all five nations.
The coalition includes RIBA in England, the Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW), the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), the Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) in Northern Ireland, and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI).
The group has been formed in response to the Phase 2 report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which raised concerns about inconsistencies and competence in building safety design.
The institutes said the new partnership will support aligned professional standards and help improve clarity around regulations, training and access to life safety information.
Coordinated response to Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report
RIBA stated that the new group is one of several measures being taken by the architectural bodies in response to the inquiry’s findings.
The inquiry’s Phase 2 report identified systemic failings in the regulation and management of fire safety in the built environment.
In response, the five institutes said they aim to eliminate barriers created by regional differences in codes and competence standards.
The intention is to create consistent expectations and provide architects with access to all required technical data and statutory guidance, regardless of national boundary.
The initiative also aims to support client awareness by ensuring life safety is prioritised during the design brief and procurement stages.
Guidance development for wider construction sector
The institutes said that in addition to resources for architects, the group will create guidance applicable to other construction professionals.
This is intended to support informed decisions around procurement, risk management and design strategy for fire and life safety in projects of varying scale and typology.
The group said it will focus on making core fire design principles accessible to non-specialists to promote a shared understanding across the supply chain.
By doing so, they aim to create a framework for collaboration across disciplines, helping ensure design decisions are properly resourced and risks appropriately addressed.
The architectural bodies added that this guidance will not replace national codes, but support professionals in interpreting them effectively and consistently.
Joint statement from presidents of Belfast Group
The presidents of the five institutes issued a joint statement outlining the purpose of the new alliance and the shared priorities of the members.
Sean Mahon (RIAI), Karen Anderson (RIAS), Dan Benham (RSAW), John Lavery (RSUA), and Muyiwa Oki (RIBA) said: “The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report makes clear that more is required to ensure our buildings are as safe as possible.
“This is relevant for every architect. While each jurisdiction has its own regulatory framework, there are core competencies on designing for life safety that transcend political boundaries and project typologies.
“Therefore, the Belfast Group will share best practice, knowledge and information in design standards for life safety. This coordination will ensure that appropriate training and competency standards are implemented across each nation.
“We continue to work with our relevant governments to ensure that our members have access to all the regulations, standards and technical information they need whilst also providing guidance to clients on how to support the procurement and resourcing of projects, so life safety is at the heart of the appointment process.
“These steps will help deliver safer buildings for all.”
Support for regulatory access and training alignment
The Belfast Group said it intends to work with national governments to ensure full and open access to all relevant fire and life safety documentation for built environment professionals.
This includes statutory regulations, recognised technical standards and supporting guidance across the five nations.
According to RIBA, this approach is intended to reduce variability in access and interpretation of fire safety information by designers working across borders.
The group stated that it also plans to review training frameworks and recommend improvements in competency pathways, particularly for professionals taking on roles with life safety responsibility.
The institutes said they are committed to sharing best practice and adopting consistent baseline expectations for professional performance related to fire and life safety.
Architectural institutes form Belfast Group to align fire and life safety design: Summary
Architectural institutes from the UK and Republic of Ireland have formed the Belfast Group.
The initiative aims to standardise fire and life safety design guidance across five jurisdictions.
The group includes RIBA, RIAI, RIAS, RSAW and RSUA.
It was created in response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report.
The group intends to share best practice and align competence standards for architects.
It will also develop guidance for construction professionals beyond architecture.
The institutes will engage with governments to improve access to technical information.
They aim to help ensure that life safety is prioritised during design and procurement.
A joint statement from the five institute presidents confirmed these objectives.
The Belfast Group said it will focus on shared training and regulatory access.