A health and safety report into the Grenfell Tower blaze has called for an overhaul of the way building regulations are handled
An investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire has recommended sweeping changes to building regulations and construction projects.
Current building regulations are ‘not fit for purpose’ and leave room for builders to cut corners, Dame Judith Hackitt said in an interim report from her review.
The former health and safety chief has been assessing the adequacy of the guidelines in the wake of the disaster, which raised fears that unclear industry standards had allowed dangerous material to be installed on residential tower blocks.
She said she was ‘shocked’ by how some residential properties were built and maintained.
She said regulations can be confusing and expressed concern about incompetence in the building profession.
Dame Judith wrote in the report’s introduction: ‘There is plenty of good practice but it is not difficult to see how those who are inclined to take shortcuts can do so.
‘What is initially designed is not what is being built, and quality assurance of materials and people is seriously lacking.
‘I have been shocked by some of the practices I have heard about and I am convinced of the need for a new intelligent system of regulation and enforcement for high-rise and complex buildings which will encourage everyone to do the right thing and will hold to account those who try to cut corners.’
Former health and safety chief Dame Judith Hackitt said a ‘cultural shift’ is needed
The fire raised fears flammable materials were being attached to buildings to save money
It is suspected that pressure to drive down the price of refurbishing Grenfell Tower led to cheaper, flammable material being installed on its exterior.
Seventy-one people died when a fire tore through the west London block on June 14, while a subsequent safety operation identified hundreds more buildings with similar cladding systems.
In her report, Dame Judith called for a ‘cultural and behavioural change’ to make sure large and complicated building are safe.
She wrote: ‘The mindset of doing things as cheaply as possible and passing on responsibility for problems and shortcomings to others must stop.
‘Everyone’s focus must be on doing the right things because it is their responsibility as part of a system which provides buildings that are safe and sustainable for those who will live in and use them for many decades.’
Families of the 71 people who died in the blaze attended a service at St Paul’s last week
There have been widespread calls for a thorough investigation into how the fire happened
She added: ‘Changes to the regulatory regime will help, but on their own will not be sufficient unless we can change the culture away from one of doing the minimum required for compliance, to one of taking ownership and responsibility for delivering a safe system throughout the life cycle of a building.’
A full report is expected to follow in spring 2018, focusing on an overhaul of the regulatory system and the improvement of safety standards.
The review is one of several probes prompted by the blaze, which include Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s public inquiry and a vast police investigation.