Tag Archives: safety

What is RAAC concrete and why is it a safety risk?

Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) is a lightweight material that was used mostly in flat roofing, but also in floors and walls, between the 1950s and 1990s. It is a cheaper alternative to standard concrete, is quicker to produce and easier to install. It is aerated, or “bubbly”, like an Aero chocolate bar. But it […]

October deadline for higher risk building registration & Building Safety Act provisions approaching: What do you need to know?

The recent publication of The Higher-Risk Buildings (Management of Safety Risks etc) (England) Regulations 2023 (the Regulations) serve as a timely reminder that the deadline for the registration of higher-risk buildings is fast approaching. Read more via IFSEC Global.

Investigation finds NHS buildings ‘in a bad way’ with chemical leaks

Buildings across the NHS “are in a very bad way and getting worse”, with the Government being warned that patients “deserve better”. It comes after an investigation by the Liberal Democrats found evidence of chemical leaks in patient areas at a number of hospitals in England, as well as broken fire alarms in some facilities. Read more […]

BAFSA responds to new research highlighting “shockingly low-level of sprinklers” in high-rise residential buildings

The Chief Executive of the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association (BAFSA), Ali Perry, has praised a recent report in Inside Housing magazine that highlights the shockingly low-level of sprinklers retro-fitted in high-rise residential buildings since the Grenfell tragedy – that took place in June 2017. Read more via IFSEC Global

Registration of buildings with new safety regulator underway

Registration is part of the new stricter regime from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) to protect residents. All high-rise residential buildings – those that are at least 18 metres tall or have seven or more floors containing at least two residential units – must be registered by law. Read in full via IFSEC Global.

Fire safety guide: Fire hazards and safety procedures for flats

Multi-occupied residential buildings, namely those containing flats, are subject to increasingly stringent fire safety measures. The 2017 Grenfell tragedy has been a catalyst for the introduction of positive and important measures to better protect tenants from potential hazards. But what are the main risks involved, and how can they be minimised? Read in full at […]

Responsible persons urged to ‘be ready’ to register high-rise buildings with new Building Safety Regulator from April

Established as part of a package of measures outlined within the Building Safety Act 2022, a new building registration scheme has been set up by the Building Safety Regulator. All high-rise residential buildings – defined as 18 metres tall or at least seven storeys and above – in England must have been registered with the […]

Grenfell contractor company among 11 facing ‘ban’ on building for failure to sign remediation pledge

The government has revealed the names of 11 developers that failed to sign its contract to fix fire safety defects, and face being frozen “out of the housebuilding business unless and until they change course”. Keep reading on Inside Housing website. The details in this story were accurate as of 15 March 2023, and the […]