Amongst the many recommendations in the report, putting evacuation plans in place for all high-rise buildings is paramount.
Building owners and managers would be required by law to develop evacuation plans for all high-rise buildings if adopted, but it is not yet known how these changes will impact the sector in terms of legal obligations.
Other recommendations include:
- Personally develop plans for residents who would struggle to evacuate themselves.
- The provision of alarm systems, building plans, and emergency services.
- An “urgent” inspection of fire doors in all properties with separate dwellings – not just high rises.
- Improved fire signage
- “Vigorous” progress in the slow rate of the removal of dangerous cladding – with particular attention to be applied to decorative features that could allow the fire to spread horizontally.
- The provision of evacuation strategies which will include the retrofitting of manual or smart alarms to alert residents
ARLA Propertymark advises its members to ensure they are up-to-date with changes and information on home and high-rise building safety as this will be much-needed to ensure you’re compliant and a well-informed source for landlords and tenants.
Although Phase 1 of the inquiry has been limited to investigating the course of events during the night of 14 June 2017 and much work remains to be done, it has already become clear that some important steps need to be taken to improve fire safety in high-rise residential buildings.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Sir Martin said:
'The report contains a number of recommendations which I am confident will improve the safety from fire of those who live in high-rise buildings.
“They require urgent action to be taken by the government and others who have responsibility for the oversight and direction of the emergency services, in particular, the London Fire Brigade. I look forward to their implementation without delay.'
