Matt Thompson’s Post

The final report on Grenfell has been released. It is 1700 pages, 7 Volumes - representing the scale of negligence and failure to deliver as an industry.   It was difficult to read the conclusions, and to see the amount of mistakes committed by several different professions that eventually led to the death of 72 people of which 18 were children.   As construction professionals, we are responsible for people's wellbeing and safety by designing, curating and building the structures they occupy. If we don’t consider every aspect and every detail - people will be impacted. People could die and people have died.   To summarise a very thorough and extensively considered report:   ·  The government failed to provide suitable guidance to compliance through building regulations and lack of a focused department ·  The contractors failed us by not ensuring compliance on site ·  Building control failed to audit and be objective ·  The manufacturers of materials lied about their performance and testing ·  Architects and engineers didn’t consider or question what they were specifying This is not the end of the list - sadly there's more failure and improvements to make. This was all avoidable. All due to lack of sufficient thought and care. We need to do better.   What now? Where do we go from here? What happens to Grenfell?   I urge everyone in the construction industry to read as much of the report as possible. And to question every standard they work to and absolutely always aim for better. https://lnkd.in/eAVuknbt #buildingsafety #construction #builtenvironment #standards #regulations

Phase 2 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Report A comprehensive 1700 page report published across 7 volumes - https://lnkd.in/eNwkbJuJ Key Findings: - A collective failure over DECADES by successive Governments, Local Authorities, Construction Industry Bodies, Product Suppliers and Design / Build Teams. - Commercial gain was prioritized over public safety which attributed to the tragic death of 72 people in 2017. - A series of failures across the testing and accurate certification of materials, lack of competence in the design and construction process and inability to identify the significant fire safety risks in the Grenfell Tower Refurbishment. Recommendations: Adding to the finding and recommendations from Dame Judith Hackitt's "Building a Safer Future" Report and the passing of the Building Safety Act 2022 to regulate work on HRBs (Higher Risk Buildings), a number of further recommendations were made (not all listed). - A centralised Construction Regulator reporting to a single Government Minister responsible for construction product regulations, testing, fire risk assessor accreditations, building control oversight, and the licensing of Contractors to work on HRBs - The definition of a HRB for the purposes of the Building Safety Act be reviewed urgently. - The Secretary of State to appoint a Chief Construction Adviser with a sufficient budget and staff to provide advice on all matters affecting the Construction Industry. - A review of all Approved Documents including B Fire Safety to ensure clarity and fit for purpose. - Make it a statutory requirement that a Fire Safety Strategy is produced by a Registered Fire Engineer & submitted with Building Control Applications (at Gateway 2) for any HRB and for it to be reviewed and re-submitted at the stage of completion (Gateway 3). - A National Register of Contractors for HRBs with a personal guarantee from a Director that the building is constructed as safe in line with Building Regulations. #grenfell #firesafety #construction #higherriskbuildings #improvingstandards

🙏 Brush up on the City's Chapter 33 Building Code revisions with CR Safety. The DOB's Chapter 33 Building Code revisions affect nearly every aspect of the construction process in New York City. Making it crucial that industry members know, understand, and comply to avoid fines and maximize their site's safety potential. For more on BC 3304.7 – 'Access to Excavations,' visit: https://lnkd.in/g88ACGwJ #NYC #Construction #Excavations

It’s a landmark day for building safety, and I’ve just finished reading through and reflecting on the 52 page executive summary of the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report. https://lnkd.in/dPButuye The report itself is extensive, spanning 1,694 pages over 7 volumes, so it will take me a few days to get through it all I imagine. It is a challenging read in places, reflecting the complexity of the issues at hand. The report will, I hope, initiate the crucial process of holding those responsible accountable for the entirely avoidable loss of life at Grenfell. Whilst we have seen a wave of new legislation, standards, and guidance introduced since the tragedy, progress has been painfully slow. I hope this final report serves as a catalyst to accelerate the necessary changes across the industry, supported by clearer, more robust, and better-enforced legislation. It is essential that this report marks a turning point, ensuring that safety is prioritised and that such a tragedy never happens again. The report includes numerous recommendations that cover every aspect of building design, construction, and management, not to mention the role of government and the regulator. These are just a few that immediately stand out to me, and they are indicative of the broader changes needed across the industry. - Government's complacency toward safety - Need for fresh perspectives in building regulations - Low levels of competence in the construction industry - Mandatory accreditation for fire risk assessors - Recognition and regulation of fire engineers - Mandatory fire safety strategies - A broader definition of higher-risk buildings - Personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) for vulnerable residents There is still much to do…

🔍 How well do you know the City's Chapter 33 Building Code revisions? The DOB's Chapter 33 Building Code revisions affect nearly every aspect of the construction process in New York City. Making it crucial that industry members know, understand, and comply to avoid fines and maximize their site's safety potential. For more on BC 3303 – 'Safeguards and Maintenance of Site,' visit: https://lnkd.in/eja-RFTR #NYC #Construction #SiteSafety

🔍 How well do you know the City's Chapter 33 Building Code revisions? The DOB's Chapter 33 Building Code revisions affect nearly every aspect of the construction process in New York City. Making it crucial that industry members know, understand, and comply to avoid fines and maximize their site's safety potential. For more on BC 3303 – 'Safeguards and Maintenance of Site,' visit: https://lnkd.in/eja-RFTR #NYC #Construction #SiteSafety

🚧 How well do you know the City's Chapter 33 Building Code revisions? The DOB's Chapter 33 Building Code revisions affect nearly every aspect of the construction process in New York City. Making it crucial that industry members know, understand, and comply to avoid fines and maximize their site's safety potential. For more on BC 3303.4 – 'Guardrail System,' visit: https://lnkd.in/g5hN4VF5 #NYC #Construction #BuildingCode

🚧 How well do you know the City's Chapter 33 Building Code revisions? The DOB's Chapter 33 Building Code revisions affect nearly every aspect of the construction process in New York City. Making it crucial that industry members know, understand, and comply to avoid fines and maximize their site's safety potential. For more on BC 3303.4 – 'Guardrail System,' visit: https://lnkd.in/g5hN4VF5 #NYC #Construction #BuildingCode

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