While we are waiting for the new government to organise themselves and announce their housing priorities, new rules have arrived for buildings classed as high-rise blocks of flats. The definition of high rise is 18 metres or over, or 7+ storeys.

On 14th June 2017 the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block of flats in West London caught fire leaving 72 people dead and 70 injured. This was worst residential structural fire in the UK since WW2. The official report shows that the aluminium composite material cladding used on the exterior of the tower was “the principal reason why the flames spread so rapidly up, down and around the building”.

Following this tragedy building regulations were changed. 2018 saw the ban of combustible materials on external walls for new high-rise blocks of flats. 2022 brought guidance that blocks of flats should have an evacuation alert system. 2026 will see the requirement of new high-rise blocks of flats to have a second staircase.

Additional procedures introduced in October 2023 required approval from a building safety regulator, when you want to carry out remedial work, on high rise blocks of flats. In the past the local authority, or a registered private building control person was used for approval.

Changes were also mandated by the government for “responsible persons” to regularly check firefighting equipment; central staircases and exits. Safety case reports were also required where the building, including external composition, were assessed for risks to peoples safety from the spread of a fire. These typically had to be paid for by the leaseholders and did not come under the protections in the Building Safety Act of 2022. Remedial action, including the removal or replacing of unsafe cladding, is the building owners responsibility and cannot be past onto the leaseholders. Failure to comply with the necessary changes can result in enforcement action.

Any residents that are concerned that their building is not compliant, can contact their local authority or go to the Building Safety Regulator. Any anxieties you have in the firefighting equipment within your building, can be conveyed to the local fire and rescue service who will investigate.