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

Highways Supervisor

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£44982 - £54500
Job Title Highways Supervisor... Richmond
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Communication Support Worker

Durham County Council
£33,673 - £37,563 pro rata
Required – Temporary, grade 8, term time only plus 2 weeks.  8 hours per week until 31 August 2027. Are you looking or a role in school supporting th Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Outreach Workers

Durham County Council
Grade 6 £29,071 - £32,046
We are looking for enthusiastic and committed practitioners to join our Family Hub Teams supporting children and Families to deliver services in comm Peterlee
Recuriter: Durham County Council

School Admin Officer

Durham County Council
£26,403 - £28,598 pro rata (pay award pending)
Required to work term time only plus 2 weeks during summer holidays. 8am-4pm. Wingate Nursery School is looking for an exceptionally organised, warm, Wingate
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Cleaner

Durham County Council
£24,796 pro rata (pay award pending)
Required to work 12 hours per week, 05.30-08.00 or 15.30-18.00 Monday-Friday, Term Time plus 3 weeks to be worked during school holidays. We are seek Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner