VOICE OF THE INDUSTRY
HAS THE ISSUE OF COMPETENCY BECOME CLEARER POST-GRENFELL?
JONATHAN O’NEILL OBE IS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE
The Grenfell Tower tragedy exposed fundamental and deep-rooted issues over competency, highlighting major skills and knowledge gaps amongst those responsible for the design, construction, maintenance and day-to-day operation of buildings. In this article, Jonathan O’Neill OBE, Managing Director of the Fire Protection Association (FPA), explores whether the issue of competency has become clearer since Grenfell, and argues that a greater degree of focus must be placed on fire safety competence and accountability for those responsible for building design.
FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (FPA)
THE FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (FPA)
Moving competency forward post-Grenfell In the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy, an Independent Review into Building Regulation and Fire Safety was commissioned by the UK Government. Led by Dame Judith Hackitt, the review urged a “radical rethink of the whole system and how it works”, claiming that the industry “has not reflected and learned for itself, nor looked to other sectors”. So, has it been successful? The Hackitt Review was a significant piece of work that recommended a more robust approach to managing higher-risk residential buildings (HRRBs). The review has put greater pressure on the construction industry and pushed for individuals – including architects and building designers – to increase their understanding of fire risks, as well as the importance of using the appropriate materials and systems to maximise safety. But what specific implications does the review have for building design and construction? It found that the current regulatory system does not properly identify who the key duty holders in the procuring, design and construction of buildings should be and the key accountabilities that flow from these roles. It then goes on to make specific recommendations, including highlighting the roles of principal designers and specialists commissioned to support and the need for them to have robust and accountable systems; recommendations that are aligned closely with those described in the Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015. FC&A – APRIL – 2021
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The review identified that all those involved in supporting the principal designer should also have the suitable and certified skills, knowledge and experience (i.e. competency) to perform those roles. The issue of fire safety competence is fundamental to improving standards, yet across the board – including within roles in building design, construction and building and facilities management – tasks are often performed without the necessary skills and experience. We only need to look to the Grenfell and earlier Lakanal House fires as evidence for this. It is recognised that architectural design courses devote only a minor proportion of time to the consideration of fire safety requirements. However, it is vital that architects and designers recognise the limitations of their competence and consult or appoint competent accredited professionals with demonstrable specialist expertise when necessary. For example, while it is understandable that an architect may not have in-depth knowledge of certain fire safety requirements in relation to building design, particularly for complex, multi-occupancy new builds or refurbishment projects, they should engage a competent fire consultant or, where necessary, fire engineer to ensure
