Grenfell roundtable discussion

A roundtable discussion of leading fire sector professional bodies took place at the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) headquarters last week, to consider the recommendations from Phase 2 of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The IFE were joined by The Fire Industry Association, The Fire Sector Federation, Fire Protection Association, National Fire Chiefs Council, CROSS-UK (Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures), and the Health and Safety Executive as the Building Safety Regulator.

Recognising the significance of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the pivotal role the sector can plan in making people and buildings safer, we engaged in discussions on how we can support the government and industry to respond to the recommendations and the wider ramifications of the report itself.

We reviewed the recommendations and clearly identified opportunities for collaboration, ensuring that, as an industry, we instil meaningful change for communities and support the work of all partners to rebuild confidence and drive essential reforms.

Attendees unanimously agreed that the need for a collaborative approach to ensuring effective fire safety and building regulatory improvements is key.

The following key points were discussed:

Competence

1. Construction standards: The development of robust and consistent competency frameworks was emphasised, clearly defining the required knowledge and ethical standards for fire and construction professionals.

2. Competence and professionalism: Establishing clear standards of competence across the sector is crucial for maintaining accountability and consistency across built environments. There must be a focus on defining consequences for non-compliance, ensuring that individuals and organisations conform with the required professional standards.

3. Professional standards and accreditation: Enhanced promotion of existing registration processes for fire engineers is essential to ensure the maintenance and upholding of professional standards. Expansion in the number of accredited fire engineering programmes is needed at higher education institutions. For the development of future expertise, this is crucial.

Structure

1. Building and safety regulatory framework: Industry participants expressed concern about the fragmentation of fire safety regulation among multiple government ministries. It was acknowledged that integrating emergency response capabilities with fire safety strategies is critical for efficiently managing risks, particularly in complex building environments.

2. Establishing a central co-ordinated entity: The need for a central co-ordinating unit was raised, to act as a collaborative platform for all stakeholders. This would streamline efforts, aligning objectives, and provide a result in a unified approach to addressing the complexities of standards and regulation.

3. Communications: There was a unanimous agreement on the need for cohesive communication amongst leading fire organisations, to effectively present the sector's collective efforts and actions transparently to both government and our communities. We must demonstrate a unified commitment to responding to the recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

Research

1. Innovation in fire safety: To meet the needs of the industry, map out current research avenues and pinpoint areas in need of innovation. The delegates reached a consensus to develop a common agenda that directs future research towards practical, high-impact areas of fire safety.

All participants are committed to advancing regulation, enhancing professional competencies, and achieving our shared objectives across the fire sector.

Several collaborative projects were agreed, and these will be considered at a future roundtable discussion in the coming months to review progress and continue a shared dialogue together. Invitations will be extended to other key organisations.