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Fire Safety Act: LFB warns it will use new powers against building owners that put lives at risk
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has warned building owners and managers that it will not hesitate to take enforcement action against those that put lives at risk, as new fire safety laws come into force.
In a statement, the capital’s fire service said the Fire Safety Act provided more clarity over when it can take enforcement action, with the body now able to more easily punish freeholders and building managers that fail to fix dangerous cladding and balconies.
LFB commissioner Andy Roe said: “We have already warned London’s building owners and managers that this was coming, and we will use these new powers if they aren’t meeting their legal responsibilities, so we are again reiterating our calls that they need to take urgent action to fix their buildings if there are serious failings.”
Mr Roe added that there needed to be a “culture change” in the industry when it comes to fire safety in residential buildings and said it was really concerning that the number of blocks with serious fire safety failings in London had topped 1,000.
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The Fire Safety Act achieved Royal Assent last year after travelling between the House of Commons and House of Lords a number of times, as leaseholders, campaigners and lords attempted to get amendments that would protect them from large remediation bills.
The new legislation will now require building owners to consider the external walls in periodic fire risk assessments. Previously, the externals of the buildings fell out of scope of fire risk assessments.
These will be conducted against the newly created PAS 9980 standard, which uses a five-step assessment process to assess the level of risk posed by the construction of a building.
This will mean fire services across the country will have more powers to take action against building owners that fail to remediate dangerous materials on the outside of their blocks.
Mr Roe added: “We must never forget what has brought us to this day and that is the 72 people who died at the Grenfell Tower fire and all those affected. They remain in our thoughts.”
The comments come on the same day the government published a Fire Reform White Paper, which sets out a number of proposals aimed at transforming emergency services.
The policies include plans to introduce “modern workforce practices” to the fire and rescue service and could potentially see the establishment of a ‘college of fire and rescue’.
Responsibility for fire governance may also be transferred to a single elected individual who would oversee delivery by operationally independent chief fire officers.
The fire brigade has been under intense scrutiny during the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, with it highlighting how the LFB in particular failed to learn lessons from previous fatal fires in the lead up to Grenfell.
On the white paper, home secretary Priti Patel said: “The government’s priority is keeping the public safe and the reforms we’ve set out today will strengthen and support our hard-working fire and rescue services.
“The white paper will be transformative in how firefighters are trained and will enable fire and rescue services to build on their strengths and leadership.”
Building safety and fire minister Lord Greenhalgh added: “The Grenfell Inquiry and independent inspections show reform is needed and we are tackling issues head on with this white paper.
“Fire professionals step up to protect and serve their communities and it is only right that they have the right tools to do their jobs effectively.”
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