WOBO is pleased to provide a selection of news items and responses to events that have taken place and opportunities that are available for CPD.
Radical action to speed up removal of unsafe cladding announced by Government
The UK Government has set out tough new targets designed to fix unsafe buildings in England as part of a new Remediation Acceleration Plan. The latter introduces new measures to make sure buildings are fixed quicker, ensure rogue freeholders are held to account and put a timeline in sight for affected residents.
For the first time, the Government has set clear target dates for making buildings safe and will propose to introduce significantly tougher penalties for any refusal to act.
By the end of 2029, all 18 metres-plus (ie high-rise) buildings with unsafe cladding in a Government-funded scheme will have been remediated. By the end of 2029, every 11 metres-plus building with unsafe cladding will either have been remediated or have a date set for completion. Otherwise, landlords will be liable for severe penalties.
The Remediation Acceleration Plan will also be backed by investment in enforcement so that local authorities, Fire and Rescue Authorities and the Building Safety Regulator have the capacity to tackle hundreds of cases each year.
Alongside the Remediation Acceleration Plan, the Government is publishing a joint Action Plan with developers to accelerate their work to fix buildings for which they are responsible. At least 29 developers, covering over 95% of the buildings which developers are remediating themselves, have committed to more than doubling the rate at which they’ve been assessing and starting to fix unsafe buildings, meaning that work on all of their buildings will begin by the summer of 2027.
BSI invites comment on construction sector-focused PAS 9970-1 and PAS 9970-2
THE PUBLIC consultation for PAS 9970-1 Fire Safety in Construction – Organisation and Site Fire Safety – Code of Practice is due to start in April 2025 and for PAS 9970-2 Fire Safety in Construction – Temporary Fire Alarm Systems – Specification in June. The British Standards Institution (BSI) is inviting public comment on both documents via its online draft review system.
Business Sprinkler Alliance welcomes safety updates for new care homes
THE BUSINESS Sprinkler Alliance has welcomed the recent announcements in England and Northern Ireland regarding updates to the Building Regulations Approved Document B and Technical Booklet E, which now guides the installation of sprinkler systems in new care homes.
BSR to lead on “fundamental review” of Building Regulations guidance
DEPUTY PRIME Minister Angela Rayner has asked the Building Safety Regulator at the Health and Safety Executive to undertake a “fundamental review” of how Building Regulations guidance is produced, updated and communicated to the construction industry.
Two major reports have highlighted the need for change. The document produced subsequent to Dame Judith Hackitt’s 2018 Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety referenced the Approved Documents as being “complex, ambiguous and not user-friendly” and recommended simplifying them (as well as making them digital in form).
The aforementioned Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report echoed this sentiment, emphasising the need for continuous review and regular updates to ensure guidance remains both relevant and effective.
Further, the Building Safety Regulator’s Strategic Plan for 2023-2026 commits to addressing the long-standing issues with the Approved Documents.
London Fire Brigade praised by HMICFRS for “significant improvements”
The London Fire Brigade has made “significant improvements” to its performance since the last inspection conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) and is now deemed to be “outstanding” in its response to major and multi-agency incidents, the Inspectorate has observed.
24th International Water Mist Conference: Call for Papers published
THE 24th International Water Mist Conference (#IWMC2025) will take place in Manchester on 24 and 25 September 2025. The event is organised by the International Water Mist Association (IWMA) and the Call for Papers has now been published. The abstract deadline is 15 April. For the first time, Max Lakkonen (IFAB), the newly elected IWMA president, will open the event
ROCKWOOL issues Technical Bulletin on durability of stone wool insulation
Recognising the importance of insulation’s long-term thermal performance in the energy efficiency of buildings, insulation manufacturer ROCKWOOL has issued a Technical Bulletin concentrating on the durability of its stone wool insulation
Did you know that FireQual offers Regulated Qualifications in Fire Risk Assessment?
It is strongly anticipated that as a result of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report regulated qualifications for individuals performing Fire Risk Assessments shall be required moving forward.
Qualifications are available from FireQual for Fire Risk Assessment in low, medium, and high-risk premises. In addition to this, a further qualification is available for high-risk premises and supporting the development of others. All qualifications available are regulated via Ofqual and SQA and provide quality evidence of an individual’s knowledge and skills to undertake this work.
For further information please visit the appropriate qualification information page on the FireQual website:
FireQual Level 2 Award in Fire Risk Assessment in Low-Risk Premises
FireQual Level 3 Award in Fire Risk Assessment in Medium-Risk Premises
FireQual Level 4 Award in Fire Risk Assessment in High-Risk Premises
SQA Levels are also available.
Information on which FireQual Approved Training Centres are available to deliver these qualifications is available via the search tool found on the FireQual website.