VOICES | HYWEL DAVIES Building a safer future Almost two years after the conflagration at Grenfell Tower that claimed 72lives, the government has published a far-reaching consultation on how we build and operate multi-occupancy residential buildings. Hywel Davies outlines some of the more challenging proposals B uilding a Safer Future, a consultation on proposals to reform the building safety regulatory system, was published on 6 June. It is the next stage in implementing the independent review of building regulations and fire safety led by Dame Judith Hackitt. There is concern about the slow progress in addressing Dame Judiths review, but the consultation suggests significant thought and work behind the scenes. Itcovers almost 100 pages, with 90 pages ofsupporting annexes. The proposals deliberately go beyond the narrow focus on high-rise residential buildings. While Dame Judiths terms of reference limited her scope, she repeatedly called for her recommendations to be applied more widely than residential buildings more than 30m in height. Government has lowered the threshold to 18m and is consulting on exactly which buildings should be covered. Tucked away are three proposals that could radically change the way we work. occupation is permitted. This information includes the original full plans and agreed deviations; the Construction Control Plan; a digital record of the building as built; and an updated Fire and Emergency File from Gateway two. It is intended that this package, which forms a key part of the golden thread ofinformation about the building and itsmanagement, will be handed to the client. It will also form the basis for thesafety case for ongoing occupation ofthe building. As well as providing this package, the contractor and the designer will be responsible for verifying compliance with the regulations. It is proposed to require the principal contractor to produce a final declaration with the principal designer, confirming that the building complies with Building Regulations and that this documentation has been handed back to the client. This is radical. No more will contractors be able to say building control signed it off, as the answer will be you signed a declaration that it complied, and you delivered a digital model. If the designer has to make the declaration, they cannot disappear from the scene at Gateway two: they have to be involved in the The designer cant risk their PI insurance on a declaration they cannot make with confidence A new building safety regulator Fundamental to the reforms is the creation of a new building safety regulator which goes beyond Dame Judiths recommendations. The regulator will oversee the design, construction and management of buildings effectively and robustly, enforcing the new, stricter regimefor buildings that fall within its remit, with possiblecriminal sanctions. It will also be responsible for:the regulations; overseeing the competence, throughout their working lives, of those working on buildings; and operating registers of competent people and licensed buildings. Sign-off at handover DR HYWEL DAVIES is technical director at CIBSE www.cibse.org Dame Judith proposed a series of gateways for projects within her scope. The proposals for Gateway two include a requirement for the new regulator to approve the full plans including a digital model and full fire-safety strategy before work can begin. Gateway three sets preconditions for handover. For multi-occupied residential buildings of 18m or more, the contractor will be required to hand over safety information about the final, as-built building before 16 July 2019 www.cibsejournal.com CIBSE July19 pp16-17 Hywel Davies / Patrons.indd 16 21/06/2019 14:42