CPA responds to next phase of Hackitt Review

The Construction Products Association has been invited to join three working groups formed as part of the next phase of the Independent Review into Building Regulations and Fire Safety led by Dame Judith Hackitt.

The three groups are looking at; Regulations and Guidance; Golden Thread; and Quality Assurance and Products.

The objectives for each of these meetings are broad, and working groups have been set a tight deadline to submit a response that is as specific and well considered as possible by the end of March. The Final Report is on a path to be published in May 2018.

At the recent industry summit, Dame Judith issued a ‘call to action’ to all those involved in the building system to bring about changes that will enable residents to be assured that their buildings are, and will continue to be, safe to live in.

Industry leaders committed to work aimed at creating a new system that will work effectively and coherently. Working groups will be established to develop innovative solutions in the following key areas:

• design, construction and refurbishment – establishing what industry and regulators need to do to fully embed building safety during the design and construction phase
• occupation and maintenance – identifying what building owners, landlords and regulators need to do differently to ensure that building safety is prioritised when a building is occupied and throughout its life cycle
• products – determining how the product testing and marketing regime can be improved
• competency – establishing how competency requirements for key individuals involved in building and managing complex and high-risk buildings should change
• residents’ voice – determining the best way for residents to be given a clear, quick and effective statutory route for raising concerns on fire safety
• regulation and guidance – resolving whether central government ownership of technical guidance is the most appropriate model for complex and high-risk buildings

As well as the work CPA are doing towards the working groups, work for the Industry Response Group is still ongoing. The CPA’s Technical Expert Panel has been integral in the feedback CPA relay to MHCLG, both in responding to key questions regarding capacity and also informing and keeping topics high on the agenda pertinent to both the products industry and the wider sector.

Peter Caplehorn, CPA Deputy Chief Executive, who is leading our efforts on Grenfell, commented: “Avoiding a repeat of Grenfell is paramount within the minds of all who share in the responsibility for specifying, installing, inspecting and managing the fire performance of our built environment.

“It is therefore crucial that those engaged in the manufacture, testing and installation of fire critical products and systems are able to present appropriate guidance to ensure that any future regulatory process is sufficiently robust.

“The CPA Technical Expert Panel has been formed to act as an essential conduit between the manufacturing sector, other key bodies and Government agencies to enable this vital flow of information and guidance.”

At the summit Dame Judith Hackitt said: "I have been greatly encouraged by the wide ranging support which my Interim Report received.

"I can now say with confidence that there is widespread agreement that the current system of regulation for high-rise and complex buildings is broken and that we need a radical overhaul and a change in culture.

"We now need to agree both the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ of delivering the transformational change which is needed."

Currently the Technical Expert Panel membership is as follows:

• Association for Specialist Fire Protection
• British Woodworking Federation
• Centre for Window and Cladding Technology
• Council for Aluminium in Building
• Finishes & Interiors Sector
• Glass & Glazing Federation
• Insulation Manufacturers Association, European Phenolic Foam Association and Engineered Panels In Construction
• Metal Cladding and Roofing Manufacturers Association
• The Mineral Wool Insulation Manufacturers’ Association

Given the importance of the Technical Expert Panel, CPA will be reviewing the TEP in due course to ensure the membership matches the agenda and topics.