Important points for Members from Judith Hackitt's Interim Report

Dame Judith Hackitt's Interim Report of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety was published today, 18 December 2017, and below are the points our Members should be aware of.

The report seems to provide the platform for change that we requested, but what's most important is of course what will be implemented.

• The report notes that the Structure of Approved Documents is poor and needs complete review.
   
• It notes that there should be a more rigorous process for high risk buildings (once they have been defined).
   
• The report recommends careful consideration on the use of desktop studies for cladding and their use should be combined with  some recognition of the qualification of those producing them.
   
• It says government should not lead on solutions – it should be industry (though how this would work is not described) – but that government should monitor and act on evidence from around the world.
   
• The current problems with product identification, testing and certification are highlighted.
   
• It recognises that the system provides shortcuts for those inclined to take them and who have a mind-set of doing things as cheaply as possible and passing the buck.
   
• There is some commentary that ‘competition’ and fire safety do not sit well together.
   
• It recognises that compliance and enforcement sanctions are too weak and we need stronger more effective enforcement backed by powerful sanctions.
   
• Identification of prime responsibility to rest with those who commission, design and build a project.
   
• It suggests more should be done to ensure oversights of the “QUALITY” of installation work.
   
• It proposes that those working on complex and high risk buildings to be suitably qualified – including ‘building control inspectors’.  This will mean we have to use the competencies definitions and tracking that we have included in the LABC Standards and look to uptake of the building control qualifications that we are establishing with CIO and the University of Wolverhampton.
   
• Reference to AIs' code of conduct and no such framework for local authorities… although we now have the LABC Standards and ISO in-place.
   
• Challenge to AIs' to demonstrate true independence. No enforcement powers other than referring to local authority and recognition that this rarely happens.
   
• There should be stronger and closer involvement with fire services during design and onwards with regulation 38 being made to work (and that BCB’s should do more on regulation 38).

LABC will be giving input to further consultations and initiatives to implement the recommendations. All members can contribute to this and we will set up channels for your input, as well as add Hackitt to the working groups' agendas.

Do you have any comments on the report? Please post them below.

Further information

View and download the report and summary of the report by visiting the Government's report page and visit our overview, Seven recommendations from the Hackitt Interim Report.

Published December 2017