Current laws and regulations are generally sufficient, but they are not properly understood, complied with and enforced, an inquiry into building fire safety heard last week.

The London Assembly inquiry was set up after recent high profile fires involving timber frame construction sites, most recently in Peckham in December. It also included the subject of high rise buildings in its remit.

[Click here to watch inquiry proceedings]

Chief officer of the London Fire Brigade, Ron Dobson, told the Assembly’s planning and housing committee hearing that he was concerned about the lack of clarity on how fire safety fits into the planning and building control processes, and of misunderstandings about the role of the fire and rescue service under the Fire Safety Order.

“My biggest worry is whether or not the changing role of the fire and rescue service and people’s responsibilities under the legislation are well understood and actually, I don’t think that they are. I think it’s going in the right direction but people don’t understand what [the] requirements are.”

Paul Everall, chief executive of Local Authority Building Control, the professional association for building control officers, echoed these sentiments. “I remain to be convinced whether this legislation is really up and running properly yet, and whether building owners are taking seriously their requirements under that legislation.”

However, Sam Webb, an architect and former council member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, said that as well as better compliance and enforcement, the Fire Safety Order should be reviewed when it comes to residential buildings of three storeys or over, and that Building Regulations should provide for sprinklers to be fitted in timber frame buildings of such height.

The effectiveness of the building control process also came under scrutiny. Richard Biggs, operations director of the Construction Industry Council, said the responsibility for complying with building regulations lies squarely with the contractor. “There is no doubt about it that there are contractors around who don’t have the requisite integrity.”

Other building control issues discussed included competition between local authority building control and private approved inspectors leading to lower prices, which could impact the number or level of inspections made on a building project.

Turning to the post-completion stage of buildings, the discussion broadened to include other buildings construction types – not just timber frame. Ron Dobson said that poor quality of build can apply as much to traditional methods of construction as it can to so-called modern methods. As for residential properties, he was “not always convinced that the changes made internally by individual residents are picked up by fire risk assessments. Equally, when changes [by the landlord] are made, it is about the way the changes are made...the quality of workmanship and the way that is regulated is very important.”

Chairman of the UK Timber Frame Association, Geoff Arnold, outline the steps his association was taking, especially the Site Safe scheme launched earlier this year. “I think all the legislation is in place but in needs to be acted on and taken very seriously. We will work proactively with the authorities to ensure timber frame buildings are safe.”

The Assembly’s planning and housing committee’s final report will make recommendations to the Mayor of London and, where appropriate, to local government, national government, housing authorities and social landlords.

Report to planning and housing committee 16 March 2010

Agenda and background