You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
RIBA: sprinkler retrofit should be mandatory for high-rise refurbs
The retrofitting of sprinklers should be mandatory in all tower block refurbishments, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has said in its evidence to the government’s building regulations review.
The RIBA is also critical of the review of building regulations and said it “must be more comprehensive”.
In addition, it called for the ‘stay put’ fire response advice to high-rise residents to be reviewed, adding that it favours evacuation in new buildings.
The government unveiled the terms of reference for its investigation into building regulations in late August and launched a call for evidence about “potential systemic failures” in September.
Submitting evidence and recommendations, the RIBA Expert Advisory Group on Fire Safety said the review should address building regulations guidance in greater detail than is currently proposed.
Dame Judith Hackitt, who is leading the review, is due to publish an interim report in the autumn and a final report in spring 2018, to which the government will issue a response in parliament.
READ MORE
Jane Duncan, chair of the RIBA Expert Advisory Group on Fire Safety, said: “The RIBA welcomes Dame Judith Hackitt’s review but we believe it must be more comprehensive, addressing the details of building regulations guidance as well as the broader regulatory system.
“The review should cover all building types and construction methods, not just those relating to high-rise, multiple-occupancy residential buildings.”
Among its 15 recommendations, the RIBA also said Dame Judith’s review should recommend retrofitting sprinklers or automatic fire suppression systems and fire alarms in existing residential buildings higher than 18 metres.
The RIBA also said fire suppression systems should be installed in all new and converted residential buildings, as well as multiple escape staircases in all new blocks of flats.
Sprinklers are currently only compulsory in new-build high rises in England, and housing minister Alok Sharma has previously described installing systems in existing stock as an “additional rather than essential” measure.
Inside Housing’s Never Again campaign calls for the government to fund the retrofitting of sprinklers in tower blocks across the UK.
The RIBA also said that the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – which allows building owners to carry out their own fire risk assessments – should be repealed and replaced with the reintroduction of mandatory fire certificates from fire brigades.
It added that the building regulation approved documents should be reviewed periodically to keep pace with new materials and building methods.
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.
