Building safety reforms must go further to deliver safer and more inclusive buildings, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has said in response to the latest consultation on Approved Document B.
The organisation has urged the Government to continue modernising the statutory guidance that supports fire safety requirements within the Building Regulations in England, warning that current guidance has not fully kept pace with modern construction methods, changing building use or the needs of a diverse and ageing population.
NFCC welcomes progress on evacuation lifts
The NFCC said the consultation from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) includes several measures that would improve clarity and strengthen fire safety standards.
Among the proposals welcomed by the council is the introduction of guidance on evacuation lifts, a measure it said it has called for over many years.
However, the NFCC said the proposed changes do not yet amount to the wider reforms needed to ensure buildings are designed around occupants’ needs and support the Government’s ambition for everyone to reach a place of safety in an emergency without external assistance.
Calls for wider reform of fire safety guidance
- Wider provision of evacuation lifts to support residents who are unable to use stairs, with safe evacuation based on people’s needs rather than building height.
- Increased use of sprinklers in specialised housing, both with and without care provision.
- Further review of fire safety requirements for car parks, including consideration of sprinkler systems and risks linked to modern vehicles and electric vehicle infrastructure.
- Greater clarity, research and testing around modern methods of construction and combustible structural materials.
- Completion of the wider Approved Document B review programme announced after Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.
‘Buildings should be suitable for the people who live in them’
Dave Russel, NFCC Protection Lead, said: “It is encouraging to see progress in a number of areas, particularly the introduction of guidance on evacuation lifts, something NFCC has been calling for over many years.
“But this is about more than individual changes to guidance. Last year, we set out a vision for a building safety system that reflects how people live today, supports those who may need help to evacuate, and keeps pace with modern buildings and modern risks.
“At its heart, this is about people. Buildings should be suitable for the people who live in them, rather than people having to be suitable for buildings. When someone needs to escape a fire, their safety should not depend on whether a building was designed with their needs in mind.
“The Grenfell Tower fire showed why we must put residents at the centre of every decision. We welcome the progress being made and look forward to working with Government and industry to ensure the wider programme of reform delivers safer, more inclusive buildings for everyone.”