The second and final report on the causes of the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people in June 2017 has been released, recommending a series of major changes for the construction industry.
The panel presenting the report consisted of its author, retired judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick, with chief executive of Leeds housing association Unity Homes, Ali Akbor, and architect Thouria Istephan. The report provides a range of recommendations which if adopted will see far-reaching changes in design and construction, including the appointment of an independent national regulator of construction with a remit far wider than the National Construction Product Regulator established following the Building Safety Act under the previous Government.
The panel said the regulator would be set up by Government to “consolidate all functions related to the construction industry.” It would be responsible for construction product regulations, testing, and oversight of building control, as well as fire risk assessor accreditation and the licensing of contractors to work on higher risk buildings.
In terms of specification of construction products the new body would “assess the conformity of construction products with legislation, statutory guidance, and industry standards, and issue certificates as appropriate,” the report says.
This “would bring a number of benefits, not least a focal point in driving a much-needed change in the culture of the construction industry.” If adopted in full by Keir Starmer’s Government, the move would bring a fundamental shift in how the industry operates.
Manufacturers would be required to provide “copies of all test results supporting any certificate issued by the construction regulator,” and to provide the construction regulator with the full testing history of the product or material and inform the regulator of any material circumstances that may affect its performance.”
The Inquiry emphasised the need for a cultural shift within the construction industry to prioritise safety over cost-cutting and commercial considerations, accusing firms involved in the Grenfell Tower refurbishment of “systematic dishonesty.”
The report also suggested the definition of ‘higher-risk buildings’ in law and regulations, the basis of the Building Safety Act, should be revisited and should not be based solely on their height. “Defining a building as higher risk solely based on its height is inadequate and arbitrary,” said More-Bick.
The Inquiry suggested that corporate entities involved in the refurbishment and management of Grenfell Tower should be held accountable for their failures.
“We conclude that the Grenfell Tower fire was the result of decades of failure by central government and other responsible bodies in the construction industry to adequately address the dangers of using combustible materials in the external walls of high-rise residential buildings, despite the information available to them.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded by saying that firms involved in the Grenfell Tower contract would be barred from working on “Government contracts.”
You can read the full report here.