You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Greater Manchester to carry out feasibility study for sprinklers in all high rises
Greater Manchester’s fire safety task force has proposed carrying out a feasibility study into retrofitting sprinklers in all the region’s high rises.
The High Rise Task Force, set up by metro mayor Andy Burnham after the Grenfell Tower fire in June, has put forward the proposals to the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) as part of its plan for a region-wide fire safety standard.
It includes landlords of social housing and private tower blocks, as well as council representatives and fire safety experts.
The group also called for housing providers in the region to take a consistent approach to fire safety and said the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service should be consulted “at all stages of a building’s life cycle”.
The fire service has just completed inspections of more than 500 tower blocks to ensure they comply with fire safety regulations.
READ MORE
Paul Dennett, mayor of Salford and leader of the Greater Manchester High Rise Task Force, said: “Greater Manchester has not shied away from addressing the fire safety challenges highlighted following the Grenfell Tower tragedy but we also need government to step up and provide the funding and resources we need to swiftly and effectively carry out this work, particularly around the replacement of cladding systems and retrofitting of sprinkler systems.”
Communities secretary Sajid Javid has said the government is considering giving councils extra borrowing flexibility to pay for “essential” fire safety work, but that it is not planning grants.
David Acton, chair of the GMCA Fire Committee and councillor at Trafford Council, said: “The Grenfell Tower tragedy marks a defining moment in relation to fire safety in high-rise buildings across the country, and it is clear that there have been conflicts and confusion around fire safety legislation and building regulations.
“That is why we are proposing a Greater Manchester standard of fire safety, putting the safety of buildings and those living and working in them at the centre.”
Inside Housing’s Never Again campaign calls on the government to retrofit the installation of sprinklers in high rise buildings.
Never Again campaign
Inside Housing has launched a campaign to improve fire safety following the Grenfell Tower fire
Never Again: campaign asks
Inside Housing is calling for immediate action to implement the learning from the Lakanal House fire, and a commitment to act – without delay – on learning from the Grenfell Tower tragedy as it becomes available.
LANDLORDS
- Take immediate action to check cladding and external panels on tower blocks and take prompt, appropriate action to remedy any problems
- Update risk assessments using an appropriate, qualified expert.
- Commit to renewing assessments annually and after major repair or cladding work is carried out
- Review and update evacuation policies and ‘stay put’ advice in light of risk assessments, and communicate clearly to residents
GOVERNMENT
- Provide urgent advice on the installation and upkeep of external insulation
- Update and clarify building regulations immediately – with a commitment to update if additional learning emerges at a later date from the Grenfell inquiry
- Fund the retrofitting of sprinkler systems in all tower blocks across the UK (except where there are specific structural reasons not to do so)
We will submit evidence from our research to the Grenfell public inquiry.
The inquiry should look at why opportunities to implement learning that could have prevented the fire were missed, in order to ensure similar opportunities are acted on in the future.
