Design and construction example, no-one has breaks at the same time, site inductions are done outside, and the facilities are cleaned more regularly. Productivity is down and costs are up, but were able to keep going. I call my site managers every day to make sure that all the risks and the constantly changing profile are being considered. If the risk becomes disproportionate or unacceptable, then action will be taken including, if necessary, closing the site. The men and women who are working there are all keen to get the projects done, because they want to do their bit to help our NHS staff at this difficult time. If they werent NHS car parks, I may have pulled the plug already, but, at the moment, our aim is to get it done to make the lives of our doctors and nurses a bit easier. All Stripes work is office-based, so its been easier because everyone is now working from home. Obviously, trying to design something collaboratively when you arent physically together is more of a challenge: normally, we huddle round a drawing and sketch out ideas. But everyone is pushing on and doing the best they can in the circumstances. Approved Doc B which covers fire safety within and around buildings isnt necessarily fit for purpose for car parks, because its not based upon valid, up-to-date data. It was drawn up many years ago, when demands were different; now, we have bigger cars with larger tanks of fuel, and electric vehicles. Our call to the government is that we need to do further research and more testing. Were still waiting on a formal response to the evidence we presented and want to raise it again at the next regular meeting between the BPA and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Of course, most of the UKs car parks are already built. The process for checking that they are safe is by an annual fire risk assessment (FRA). We have become aware that some FRAs are not being conducted bespoke to the parking situation. Weve gathered a group of experts who conduct FRAs and, at the workshop, we wanted to explore the process in greater detail, to figure out if it needs to be refined or improved for the car park profession. We will pick this back up because it is so important: if the BPA doesnt drive forward these important issues, then who will? We have become aware that some fire risk assessments are not being conducted bespoke to the parking situation Can you update me on the work the BPAs Fire Risk in Car Parks group has been doing? Up until recently, the fire risk group had been looking at new-build car parks and improving the approved documents, which although they are not statute most designers follow. Moving on to the BPA Structures group, what are the issues for members? A lot of our recent meetings have been taken up with fire risk discussions, too. But weve also been involved in shaping the new Park Mark Plus**, and we are going to help update the literature for Park Mark and Park Mark Plus. The Institute of Civil Engineers recommendations have been revised, so were also looking at updating all of the guidance that the BPA provides on life-care plans. * Simmons is director of Stripe Consulting and managing director of Ballast Nedam Parking UK ** britishparking.co.uk/Park-Mark-Plus 26 britishparking.co.uk PN May20 pp24-26 Russell Simmons feature.indd 26 23/04/2020 13:01