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.

Banning urban pesticide use image

Banning urban pesticide use

RSPB and PAN are working on a letter from local councillors calling on the Government to introduce a national ban on urban pesticide use. Find out more below.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Waste Collector/Relief Driver

Ashfield District Council
£23,500 - £23,893 per annum,
Are you passionate about keeping communities clean and environmentally friendly? Sutton-In-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Ashfield District Council

Part Time Maths Tutors

Essex County Council
£24970 - £29377 per annum + pro rata
Part Time Maths TutorsPermanent, Part TimeUp to £29,377 per annum, pro rataLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Housing Income Officer

Mansfield District Council
£26,421 - £31,364 per annum (pay award pending)
Looking for a role that makes a difference to people’s lives? Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

Fostering Social Worker - Maternity Cover

Cumberland Council
£40,221 - £41,418 per annum
Are you an experienced and hard-working Social Worker looking to develop your career? Carlisle, Cumbria
Recuriter: Cumberland Council

Business Support to CWD SEND Inclusion CMB1025e

Cumberland Council
£26,421 - £27,334 (pro rata) per annum
We are looking to recruit an experienced, self-motivated and flexible Business Support Administrator Workington, Cumbria
Recuriter: Cumberland Council
Linkedin Banner

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.