Hiba Mahamadi 03 August 2017

90 council-owned buildings fail new fire safety test

Nearly 100 buildings owned or managed by councils and housing associations have failed the latest fire safety tests conducted in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire.

The independent expert panel on safety put together by the Department for Communities and Local Government recommended in July that a new test should be conducted on high-rise buildings.

Previously, the Government-commissioned Building Research Establishment (BRE) only tested the safety of cladding on buildings.

Now a 'system' test has been conducted to determine whether the cladding, filling and insulation as a whole is safe.

The test results showed that 90 buildings owned or managed by councils and housing associations do not meet the current building regulation guidance.

A total of 111 buildings have now failed to meet the guidance.

Chair of the Local Government Association's (LGA) safer and stronger communities board, Simon Blackburn, said: 'The 16 councils which own high-rise blocks with different combinations of ACM cladding and insulation have already taken steps and put in measures to reassure residents about safety.

'Councils will continue to get on with what they need to do to ensure people are safe in their homes. This includes replacing materials on high-rise blocks affected by these fire safety tests.'

Cllr Blackburn stressed that the cost of any remedial work done by councils must be met by the Government, adding that the Grenfell Tower fire had highlighted a 'systematic failure' of the current regulations.

Repeating the LGA's previous call for the BRE to release the results of fire safety tests, Cllr Blackburn said: 'Everything must be out in the open and this needs to happen as soon as possible.'

Last week, the Government announced an independent review of building regulations and fire safety.

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know image

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know

Councils and mayors are to be handed a central role in developing skills pipelines for local industries, as the Government unveils what it calls a ‘fundamental change’ to the education system aimed at tackling youth unemployment. Here's what council leaders and officers need to know.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Apprentice (HGV Technician)

Durham County Council
£15,434 per annum NMW in first year of apprenticeship
Earn. Learn. Qualify.   Do you want to earn while you learn, with the chance of progression once you qualify? Do you want the opportunity to grow, dev Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Floor Layer

Durham County Council
£36,040 p.a. (Made up of £24,027 salary plus £12,013 p.a Interim Operational Allowance)
Durham County Council have an exciting opportunity for the role of a permanent Floor Layer working within Corporate Property and Land, Strategic Facil Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Maintenance Manager

Durham County Council
£38,220 - £41,771
Highways Services are looking for a Maintenance Manager.  To assist in ensuring the timely completion of works operations so as to achieve the optimum Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

School Caretaker

Durham County Council
£24,796- £25,185 (Pro Rata)
Temporary Contract for one year. Part-Time, 20 hours per week, Mon – Fri, split shifts Working pattern of daily hours will be negotiated between the H Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Catering Assistant

North Yorkshire Council
£13.28 - £13.28 per hour
We have an opportunity to join our award-winning Facilities Management catering team Wetherby, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner