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Scottish government launches call for evidence ahead of fire safety standards review
The Scottish government has launched a call for evidence to help “set the agenda” for its planned review into fire safety standards in buildings.
The Scottish government has launched a call for evidence to help “set the agenda” for its planned review into fire safety standards in buildings #UKhousingThe SNP-led administration pledged to carry out the assessment last year as part of its response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report published in September 2024.
The Grenfell report had recommended that statutory UK guidance, including Approved Document B, be reviewed and updated as soon as possible.
In Scotland there will be a “fundamental review” of the equivalent document, Section 2 (Fire) of the country’s technical handbooks.
The consultation also seeks feedback on a new compliance plan approach (CPA), developed in response to a 2018 review that found adherence to building regulations in Scotland needed to be improved.
It describes the CPA as “a robust compliance quality system in which the actions of parties involved in the design and construction process and verifiers are planned, recorded and reported on”.
This new approach is also set to be brought in by the Scottish government as a response to the Grenfell report’s recommendations.
Respondents to the consultation will also be asked their views on other topics such as the types of buildings covered by the high-risk building definition and the need for legislation rather than voluntary guidance.
Scotland has made several changes to fire safety legislation in the years following the tragic 2017 Grenfell Tower fire that killed 72 people.
In a foreword to the consultation, Màiri McAllan, cabinet secretary for housing, said: “The Scottish government is committed to effective fire safety to prevent fires, injuries and fatalities, which includes learning from the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the findings of the Inquiry to ensure that buildings in Scotland are designed and built in as safe a manner as possible.”
The call for evidence launched on Friday and will run for 12 weeks. A link to the survey and supporting documents can be found here.
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