The Chief Fire Officers Association’s (CFOA) call for an urgent review of Building Regulations in connection with external fire spread from fires involving construction sites demonstrates a lack of understanding about the remit of Building Regulations. However, the positive point is that it comes at a time when the construction industry and the HSE couldn’t be doing more to improve fire safety standards on construction sites and in completed homes.
Building Regulations are there to provide protection and quality assurance for the homeowner once the home is complete and it’s important to note that they are a generic standard that apply to all buildings regardless of construction type. The government would never change this approach and apply different standards for different build types because of the complication, and potential dangers, of categorising a building one thing when in fact it is something else. Add to that the new and innovative build methods coming to market; the robust nature of Building Regulations would soon be compromised.
The specific issue of fire risk management on construction sites and in completed homes is already dealt with way above and beyond Part B of the Building Regulations. The UKTFA, through its technical committee, has a significant role to play in influencing fire safety standards and we will continue to work with the HSE to make necessary improvements. Only last week the Fire Protection Association (FPA) announced that it is issuing guidelines that deal with fire on construction sites and this joins the myriad of guidance already out there, such as the HSE document HSG168 that deals with fire safety on construction sites, the Joint Code of Practice for Fire Safety published by the Construction Confederation and FPA and the Construction Regulations 2007.
While we are not trying to undermine the view of CFOA, it is critical that homeowners are not alarmed, as CFOA president John Bonney said on BBC News – timber frame homes are safe. The issue of fire is dealt with by specific regulation that far exceeds the role of the Building Regulations. We will work with the HSE and discuss the issues raised by CFOA but this is not the time for a knee-jerk reaction, but rather a more integrated approach to satisfy all concerned parties – not least the homeowner.
