Insurer urges risk managers to act ahead of Grenfell fire safety report

Risk managers should consider reviewing fire strategies ahead of expected changes to UK fire safety regulations following last year’s Grenfell Tower fire, according to specialist property insurer FM Global. The call comes just weeks before a crucial report on fire safety is due to be published, and follows demands for urgent changes to regulations by insurers and fire safety groups. Last week, the Association of British Insurers called for fundamental reform of fire safety regulation, including a ban on the use of all but non-combustible materials in construction, and a reformed testing regime. Separately, a group of fire safety experts urged the government not to wait until post-Grenfell inquiries and investigations have finished before installing sprinklers in high-risk buildings. The group, which includes the Royal Institute of British Architects and the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association, also said only non-combustible cladding and insulation should be installed in buildings. The Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, headed by Dame Judith Hackitt and commissioned in the aftermath of the Grenfell fire, is expected to publish its final findings and recommendations in May. The review’s interim report, published in December, found that regulations for designing, constructing and managing buildings are not fit for purpose. Dame Hackitt’s recommendations will have far-reaching implications for the construction industry, regulators, building owners and occupiers, according to Tom Roche, senior consultant for codes and standards at FM Global. Even though the report focuses on fires in residential buildings, its key recommendations are likely to be applicable to commercial property, such as offices, factories and retail spaces, he said. Dame Hackitt's report is likely to call for changes to fire safety regulation and construction industry practices, including compliance and enforcement, competency and testing. The recommendations are also likely to extend to existing buildings and their changing use over time, according to Mr Roche. “The report is expected to call for clear responsibilities for the construction of a building but it is reasonable to expect Dame Judith will also make recommendations for fire safety in existing buildings. This will go beyond compliance and will be felt beyond the residential sector and will challenge other sectors,” said Mr Roche. Buildings change hands and use over time, but this is often not reflected in fire safety, according to Mr Roche. For example, firewalls may have been altered, while plastics are now in much wider use than when many buildings were designed. In the case of Grenfell, a leaked police report suggested that changes to the building since 2014 allowed the fire to spread unchecked. The report says that gaps between cladding, insulation and windows added to the tower helped fan the flames. Had the changes not been made, more than 70 people who died in the fire would most likely have survived, it concluded. “This will go beyond the construction industry. It is about what we build, but also the operation of a building over time. Changes made to a building and how it is used need to be managed in the context of fire safety,” said Mr Roche. The independent review will almost certainly lead to changes in fire safety regulation, requiring a response by government and the construction industry. It is also likely to require a response from companies, as owners and occupiers of buildings, according to Mr Roche. Many companies do a good job of fire safety management, but many do not, he said. “Good fire safety management is not something that is undertaken once and then completed, it is something that needs ongoing review, checks, testing and action,” he explained. Risk managers might be tempted to wait until the government implements Dame Hackitt's recommendations before acting. However, it might pay to get ahead and review fire safety with the initial report findings in mind, according to Mr Roche. “To get ahead, risk managers can ask questions of fire strategies, fire systems, testing and regulatory assessment. They should ensure they can show good processes and make sure that they verify that actions have been taken,” said Mr Roche. “Trust is likely to become an issue and boards could ask questions around verification. It is not unusual to find that people have not acted on recommendations in maintenance reports,” he said. Organisations need to show they are actively managing fire risk, according to Mr Roche. “This is not just a paper exercise, organisations will need to take action,” he stressed. “Organisations should think about how they would deal with a fire in the buildings that they occupy. Can questions about evacuation, emergency communications, employee safety and long-term property protection be answered?” he told CRE. Mr Roche believes that fire safety also needs to consider the overall resilience of buildings. Historically, fire safety regulation is concerned with protecting life, but does not extend to the loss of property. Dame Hackitt is not expected to place much emphasis on building resilience in her final report. This would be a missed opportunity, according to Mr Roche, who believes society and businesses would benefit from a more holistic view of fire resilience. “Fire is attracting more attention, so there is a window of opportunity to better address fire safety. Feedback from risk managers suggests that the c-suite is asking questions, but this interest needs to be sustained over time,” said Mr Roche.

Insurer urges risk managers to act ahead of Grenfell fire safety report

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