Skip to main content
Facilitate Magazine: Informing Workplace and Facilities Management Professionals - return to the homepage Facilitate magazine logo
  • Search
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit Facilitate Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @Facilitate_Mag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management Logo of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
    • Comment
    • People
    • Reports
    • Research
  • Features
    • Analysis
    • Features
    • Round Tables
    • Webinars
  • Outsourcing
    • Contract Finder
    • Contracts
    • FM Business Models
    • Interviews
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Opinion
    • Procurement
    • Trends
  • Know-How
    • Explainers
    • Legal Updates
    • White Papers
  • Jobs
  • Topics
    • Workplace Services
      • Hospitality
      • Catering
      • Cleaning
      • Front of House
      • Grounds Maintenance
      • Helpdesk
      • Mailroom
      • Manned Guarding / Security
      • Pest Control
      • Washroom Services
      • Disaster Recovery
      • Specialist Services
    • Professional Performance
      • Behavioural Change
      • Continual Professional Development
      • Education
      • Management
      • Recruitment
      • Training
    • Workplace Performance
      • Benchmarking
      • Health & Wellbeing
      • Operational Readiness
      • Procurement
      • Security
      • Workplace User Experience
      • Workplace Culture
    • Compliance
      • Health & Safety
      • Risk & Business Continuity
      • Standards
      • Statutory Compliance
    • Building Services
      • Architecture & Construction
      • Asset Management
      • Building Controls
      • Building Fabric
      • Drinking Water
      • Fire Protection
      • HVAC
      • Landscaping
      • Mechanical & Electrical
      • Building Security
      • Water, Drainage & Plumbing
    • Technology
      • Building Information Modelling
      • CAFM
      • Data & Networks
      • Document Management
      • Information Management
      • Internet of Things (IoT)
      • Software & Systems
    • Energy management
      • Energy Management Systems
      • Electricity
      • Gas
      • Solar
      • Wind
    • Sustainability
      • Environmental Quality
      • Social Value
      • Waste Management
      • Recycling
    • Workspace Design
      • Agile Working
      • Fit-Out & Refurbishment
      • Inclusive Access
      • Lighting
      • Office Interiors
      • Signage
      • Space Planning
      • Storage
      • Vehicle Management / Parking
      • Washroom
    • Sectors
      • Corporate Office
      • Education
      • Healthcare
      • Manufacturing
      • International
      • Retail
      • Sports & Leisure
      • Regions
  • Buyers' Guide
Quick links:
  • Home
  • Sections
  • Outsourcing
FM Business Models
Market Analysis
News

Government brings in 'biggest changes to building safety in a generation'

Open-access content Herpreet Kaur Grewal — Friday 3rd April 2020 — updated 9.43am, Monday 15th June 2020
From the archive:  Just so you know, this article is more than 2 years old.
web_sprinkler_shutterstock_234430414.png

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has announced new measures to reform the building safety system with the biggest changes in a generation to ensure that residents are safe in their homes.

The measures include mandatory sprinkler systems and consistent wayfinding signage in all new high-rise blocks of flats over 11 metres tall.

David Hancock, the government’s construction expert, has also been appointed to review the progress in removal of unsafe ACM cladding from buildings.

The reforms are designed to incentivise compliance and to better enable the use of enforcement powers and sanctions, including prosecution where the rules are not followed. 

Jenrick will hold a round table with mortgage lenders to work on an agreed approach to mortgage valuations for properties in buildings under 18 metres tall, providing certainty for owners affected by vital building safety work.

He said: “The government is bringing about the biggest change in building safety for a generation. We have made a major step towards this by publishing our response to the Building a Safer Future consultation. This new regime will put residents’ safety at its heart, and follows the announcement of the unprecedented £1 billion fund for removing unsafe cladding from high-rise buildings in the Budget.

“We are also announcing that the housing industry is designing a website so lenders and leaseholders can access the information needed to proceed with sales and re-mortgaging, and the government stands ready to help to ensure this work is completed at pace.

“Building safety is a priority and the government is supporting industry in ensuring homes are safe at this difficult time.”

The measures build on recent announcements.

  • The provision of £1 billion in 2020/21 to support the remediation of unsafe non-ACM cladding materials on high-rise buildings. This is in addition to the £600 million already available for remediation of high-rise buildings with unsafe ACM cladding.
     
  • Naming of building owners who have been slow to act in removing unsafe ACM cladding.
     
  • Introduction of the fire safety bill, which constitutes a step further in delivering the recommendations of the Grenfell Inquiry’s phase one report.

The latest non-ACM (aluminium composite material) cladding testing results have also been published and show that none of the materials, including high-pressure laminate (HPL) and timber cladding, behaved in the same way as ACM.

The government is making it clear that any unsafe materials should be removed from buildings quickly. External wall systems on high-rise buildings using class C or D HPL panels are unsafe and should be removed, as they do not comply with building regulations.

The government says it recognises the challenges Covid-19 presents to the building industry. The work to remove unsafe cladding from buildings is critical to public safety and so remains a top priority.

The government is supporting building owners, managers and residents to ensure remediation work continues where it is safe to do so. The government has also made clear that vital maintenance and repair work can continue to take place in line with public health guidance.

Image credit | Shutterstock

You may also be interested in...

web_wfh_iStock-1186461224.png

Bosses must step up mental health support for staff during Covid-19 crisis

Only 31 per cent of managers are thought to have the confidence to have sensitive discussions on mental health and point staff to expert sources of help, shows a study by the CIPD and insurer Simplyhealth.
Thursday 2nd April 2020
Open-access content
engineer-CREDIT-Shutterstock.jpg

Building engineers carry out 'crucial work' to support essential services

A series of daily Covid-19 update webinars hosted by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has reinforced the message that building services specialists are carrying out crucial work to support the nation’s essential services.
Monday 30th March 2020
Open-access content
web_security_iStock-847846670.png

Incentive FM partners with the police on the streets

Facilities management firm Incentive FM has become nationally accredited on the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS).
Thursday 16th April 2020
Open-access content
web_repair_shutterstock_141124927.png

BESA sets up survey on NHS key services

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) is conducting a survey to identify firms across the sector capable of providing vital service and maintenance for the NHS at short notice.
Wednesday 1st April 2020
Open-access content
web_work-from-home_iStock-1057767656.png

Project starts on how homeworking in response to Covid-19 is affecting organisations

Workplace consultancy Leesman has announced a project to analyse how the mass mobilisation of homeworking strategies in response to the Covid-19 crisis is affecting organisations.
Monday 30th March 2020
Open-access content
web_coronaviruis-hospital_iStock-1211342030.png

Think Tank: How will Covid-19 change the way FMs do their jobs?

The coronavirus pandemic is changing the way we all live our lives.
Thursday 9th April 2020
Open-access content
Also filed in
Outsourcing
FM Business Models
Market Analysis
News
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

 

Latest Jobs

Interim Head of Health & Safety

Suffolk
£250.00 - £300.00 per day (premium day rate)
Reference
59637

Contracts & Senior Estates Project Manager

North West England
£29.53 per hour
Reference
59633

Facilities Manager

London (Central)
up to £43,000 + excellent benefits including car
Reference
59631
See all jobs »

 

 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to print

Sign up to receive our bi-monthly magazine

Subscribe
Facilitate magazine cover, June 2020
​
FOLLOW US
@Facilitate_Mag
Facilitate Magazine
Facilitate Magazine
CONTACT US
Contact us
Tel: 020 7880 6200
​

IWFM

About IWFM
Become a member
Qualifications
Events

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to Facilitate Magazine
Write for Facilitate Magazine

General

IWFM Jobs
Help

© 2023 • www.facilitatemagazine.com and Facilitate Magazine are published by Redactive Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ