The end of last month saw the UK government issue its proportionality statement with a recommendation that EWS1 forms should not be requested for buildings below 18m.
Following advice from an independent expert group, the report recommends that fire risks should be managed wherever possible through measures such as alarm systems or sprinklers, and that the overwhelming majority of medium and low-rise buildings (those under 18m) with cladding should not require expensive remediation. This intervention is designed to reduce needless and costly remediation in lower rise buildings and is part of wider efforts to restore balance to the market, helping flat owners to buy, sell or re-mortgage homes.
Members may have read the full report along with the IFE’s statement which backed this move. As the global professional membership body for the fire sector, we broadly support the principles in the government’s statement and expect it will lead to a significant reduction in the demand for the EWS1 process from mortgage valuers, particularly for buildings under 18m in height.
The IFE aims to advance and improve the knowledge, practice and recognition of all fire engineers and for over 100 years we have enabled fire professionals to become rigorously assessed through a well-established and dynamic system of internationally recognised membership grades and fire-related qualifications. It is our role to provide technically competent members and registrants who can make assessment of risks and adopt a proportionate and evidence-based approach to fire and building safety.
"This statement from the government will therefore support competent fire engineers to use their professional training, judgement and expertise to assess buildings based on professional appraisal of risk, a development most welcomed by the IFE. This should enable a move away from the often risk-averse and overly cautious approach that has been seen in many cases."
We encourage the commitment of all parties to ensure a proportionate and evidence-based approach to fire and building safety for all buildings along with the increased scrutiny to be provided by the new Regulators and the gateway approval process, which we expect will lead to improved levels of safety, providing comfort and reassurance for residents and homeowners as well as the wider market.
Whilst this is heavily focused on the UK fire safety sector, there will undoubtedly be ripple effects for our international members. Globally the sector is seeing a number of developments, including regulatory changes, and competency lies at the core of them all. The emphasis on competency and being suitably qualified has never been more important.
As well as minimising risks and maximising the opportunities to protect lives, competency builds trust and resilience. Trust is vital and communities need to be confident that everything possible is being done to keep the buildings they live, learn and work in as safe as possible and that they are being protected from harm.
For the IFE, competency is about more than knowledge and qualifications, it is about maintaining the high levels of ethics and standards that drive advances in fire safety, life protection and innovation around the world. We must continue to share knowledge and take learnings from each other in order to play a key role in shaping a future world that is safer from fire.
To read the ministerial statement in full click here.