You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Construction materials industry body to chair working group on building regulations
The Construction Products Association (CPA) will chair the Hackitt Review’s working group on regulations, according to a leaked list seen by Inside Housing.
Appointments to each of the eight groups have been made, with the National Fire Chiefs Council taking up advisory roles on six.
The working groups will assist Dame Judith Hackitt, who is carrying out a review of building regulations on behalf of the government, in developing proposals for change ahead of her final report.
READ MORE
The groups will look at construction and design, procurement, occupation and maintenance, competence, residents’ voice, quality assurance, and regulations and guidance, with a final overarching group to discuss ‘golden thread’ principles.
The crucial group on regulations and guidance, which will deliver recommendations for the reform of building regulations, will be chaired by Peter Caplehorn, deputy chief executive and policy director of the CPA.
The CPA represents manufacturers and distributors of construction products and materials across the UK.
In December, it welcomed Dame Judith’s interim findings, saying: “Dame Judith recognises that buildings are not currently inherently unsafe but certain shortcomings need to be addressed that cover the complete spectrum, from project initiation through design, procurement and construction, to occupation and use.”
The National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations, is represented on the golden thread group and has nominated London association Optivo to represent the sector on the residents’ voice committee.
The residents’ voice committee will be chaired by Darren Hartley, chief executive of the Tenants and Residents Organisations of England (TAROE).
The CPA and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have been contacted for comment.
The Building Research Establishment’s role chairing the group on quality assurance was criticised last week over a perceived conflict of interest.
FULL LIST: HACKITT REVIEW WORKING GROUPS
Working group 1: Golden Thread
Chairs:
Ben Stayte and Hannah Brook
Members:
National Fire Chiefs Council
Local Authority Building Control
Construction Products Association
UIL
National Housing Federation
Health and Safety Executive
Institution of Fire Engineers
Working group 2: Regulations and Guidance
Chair:
Peter Caplehorn, Construction Products Association
Members:
National Fire Chiefs Council
Local Authority Building Council
Fire Industry Association
Building Research Establishment
Health and Safety Executive
Build UK
Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers
Other groups
Working Group 1: Construction and Design
Chair:
Rachel White, Institute for Civil Engineers
Members:
Association of Consultant Approved Inspectors
Build UK
Local Authority Building Control
National Fire Chiefs Council
Institution of Fire Engineers
Royal Institute of British Architects
Health and Safety Executive
Construction Leadership Council
National House Building Council
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Working Group 2: Procurement
Chair:
Paul Nash, Chartered Institute of Building
Members:
Telford Homes
Kier Living
Construction Industry Council
Local Government Association
Home Builders Federation
Working Group 2: Occupation and Maintenance
Chair:
Nick Coombe, National Fire Chiefs Council
Members:
Association of Residential Managing Agents
National Fire Chiefs Council
British Institute of Facilities Management
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Health and Safety Executive
Leasehold Advisory Service
Local Government Association
Association of British Insurers
Working Group 4: Competence
Chair:
Graham Watts, Construction Industry Council
Members:
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Construction Industry Council Approved Inspector Register
Engineering Council
Fire Industry Association
Local Authority Building Control
Royal Institute of British Architects
National Fire Chiefs Council
Fire Protection Association
University of Edinburgh, School of Engineering
Institution of Fire Engineers
Working Group 5: Residents’ Voice
Chair:
Darren Hartley, TAROE
Members
Association of Residential Managing Agents
British Property Federation
Camden Leaseholders’ Forum, nominated by LEASE
Confederation of Co-operative Housing
Fire Industry Association
National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations
Optivo Homes, nominated by National Housing Federation
Shelter
Tenant Participation Advisory Service
Working Group 6: Quality Assurance and Products
Chair:
Dr Debbie Smith, Building Research Establishment
Members
Construction Products Association
British Standards Institution
United Kingdom Accreditation Service
British Board of Agrement
Fire Protection Association
Fire Industry Association
Centre for Fire and Hazards Science, University of Central Lancashire
National Fire Chiefs Council
Institution of Fire Engineers
The Hackitt Review
Photo: Tom Pilston/Eyevine
Dame Judith Hackitt’s (above) interim report on building safety, released in December 2017, was scathing about some of the industry’s practices.
Although the full report is not due to be published until later this year, the former Health and Safety Executive chair has already highlighted a culture of cost-cutting and is likely to call for a radical overhaul of current regulations in an interim report.
Dame Hackitt’s key recommendations and conclusions include:
- A call for the simplification of building regulations and guidelines to prevent misapplication
- Clarification of roles and responsibilities in the construction industry
- Giving those who commission, design and construct buildings primary responsibility that they are fit for purpose
- Greater scope for residents to raise concerns
- A formal accreditation system for anyone involved in fire prevention on high-rise blocks
- A stronger enforcement regime backed up with powerful sanctions
