Grenfell

    Block of Flats iStock

    All homes should be safe: a personal journey from accountancy to advocacy

    My name is Deepa Mistry and, by day, I am a chartered certified accountant in the not-for-profit sector. By night, I am a resident campaigner for building safety. My journey into this dual life started from a simple but profoundly impactful question: was the end user ever asked what they wanted?

    By Deepa Mistry, Building Safety Crisis on 12 July 2024

    Building with Yellow Cladding iStock Asergieiev

    The building safety crisis: still no end in sight

    The Grenfell tragedy uncovered serious fire and building safety defects in hundreds of thousands of flats across the UK, but in the seven years since, politicians, developers and the construction industry have failed to ensure that safety-critical remediation works are carried out quickly and at no cost to innocent leaseholders.

    By Campaign team, End Our Cladding Scandal on 04 July 2024

    Building with Cladding iStock richardwatson

    It’s time to protect all leaseholders from ruinous building safety remediation costs

    In my previous piece for Safety Management last summer (‘A new Building Safety Remediation Scheme would hold developers and builders to account for all fire and building safety defects in homes’) I set the scene on the unfolding world of building safety remediation and described how I was attempting to change things in the interests of consumer safety. Now with a general election called, there is an opportunity to influence the policies of a new, incoming administration.

    By The Earl of Lytton on 28 June 2024

    Graphic tall building safety

    Golden threads – delivering safety in buildings and beyond

    The golden thread topic has no doubt featured many times before. With it being summer 2023, the registration of higher-risk buildings is in full swing, and the policy on the golden thread of information is being finalised with secondary legislation enshrining it expected in various waves soon.

    By Sofie Hooper, Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management on 16 August 2023

    Construction workers shaking hands

    Building a safer future

    A new charter and benchmarking scheme aims to encourage all stakeholders in the built environment industry to develop the necessary leadership and culture to put people’s safety first in how we design, build and maintain the built environment.

    By Gary Townsend Vila, Building a Safer Future on 15 August 2023

    Fire Extinguisher iStock Vajira Thongsom

    Getting help with fire safety: competence is key

    With fire safety duties becoming ever more stringent following the Grenfell tragedy, it is crucial that ‘Responsible Persons’ (and other relevant safety roles) only specify and hire appropriate fire safety organisations who have been independently assessed and certificated to evidence their competence.

    By Dr Justin Maltby-Smith, BAFE Fire Safety Register on 10 August 2023

    Flats tall buildings grenfell

    Progress made and challenges ahead – Grenfell six years on

    On the sixth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, 2023 has seen a significant rollout of legislative changes to fire safety in high-rise residential buildings that highlight the progress made and the challenges that yet remain.

    By Aisha Farooq, Fire Protection Association on 08 August 2023

    Laura White, senior associate, Pinsent Masons LLP.

    Competence and culture change in the built environment: important developments

    By Laura White, senior associate, Pinsent Masons LLP. on 01 August 2023

    Andrew Bulmer Ceo Of The Property Institute Hr

    New regulatory regime for safer homes: a call for collaboration

    By Andrew Bulmer, The Property Institute on 01 August 2023

    EOCS Logo 500 Wide

    The building safety scandal: 90 per cent of affected flats are still unsafe

    By Lucy Brown, affected leaseholder and supporter of the End Our Cladding Scandal campaign on 01 August 2023