Government efforts to codify post-Grenfell fire safety guidelines into law have come under fierce criticism from a leading construction industry figure. David Jones, president of the Institute of Construction Management, has described the current fire safety guidance for multi-storey residential buildings as 'loose', 'spineless', and 'open to interpretation'. He argues that it permits too many 'tolerable' risks, such as the continued use of flammable materials in window systems and between floors, which could exacerbate fire spread.
'It's permitting developers to exploit the system,' says Jones, who has over five decades of experience in the building industry. He has labeled the plan to make the guidance law as an 'absolute abomination', becoming the first high-ranking industry leader to publicly voice opposition to the proposals, which are currently open for consultation. According to the government, the guidelines offer a balanced method for addressing the flammable cladding crisis, with ministers asserting that legal enforcement will bring clarity and certainty in identifying necessary fire safety fixes.
Cladding activists note the frequent use of the term 'tolerable' in the guidelines, known within the industry as PAS 8890. They point out that combustible materials can remain if the risk is evaluated as 'tolerable', defined by the stipulation that a fire's spread must not exceed one floor in 15 minutes or two floors in 30 minutes during standard tests. Jones argues that engineers are not required to supply explicit safety data from fire tests for these materials, resulting in assessments that are subjective and potentially exploitable. He criticizes the lack of a clear ban on materials with 'limited combustibility', which he claims can burn, albeit more slowly, as being another 'gaming of the system'.
The guidance aims to prevent delays arising from disputes over the extent of work necessary to secure cladding. Since the Grenfell Tower disaster eight years ago, progress has been gradual. As of December, Ministry of Housing statistics indicate that around 475 of the over 5,500 blocks identified as unsafe have been fully repaired and certified in the last year. Thirty-five percent of the hazardous buildings have had their cladding replaced since Grenfell, including majority of the tallest buildings with the same cladding type.
Resident representatives worry that leaving any combustible materials in place might downgrade a building's fire safety rating post-repair, potentially leading to permanently increased insurance costs. The government maintains that it is the insurance sector's responsibility to reduce premiums for buildings once declared safe. The insurance industry counters, noting it will adjust pricing to reflect ongoing risks if flammable materials remain.
Problems at the East Village development in London's Olympic Park surfaced seven years ago, with all 63 of its residential blocks found to have dangerous cladding and fire safety flaws.