Building & Fire Safety

OCS and Skanska Costain STRABAG have developed MudCam, a monitoring, detection and alerting system that continuously monitors areas of mud build-up at construction sites, improving safety and mitigating the multi-million-pound risks of site shutdowns.

SOCOTEC UK considers what documentation is now required for a fire risk assessment.

The number of times construction workers and developers were found to be working too close to high-pressure oil, gas and chemical pipes increased by 57% in 2022. Of the 316 incidents in 2022 reported to Linewatch, the pipeline safety and awareness group, 127 were caused by contractors and developers.

The Building Safety Alliance is inviting stakeholders to contribute to the development of a standardised approach to support Accountable Persons in discharging their duties in relation to the Golden Thread.

The new regime will affect most people working in the industry, and CABE
expects all members to be aware of what they will need to do to comply.

On 1 October 2023, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) became the Building Control Authority for all higher-risk buildings (HRBs) in England.

Following the announcement that Building Control will be a regulated profession, the Health and Safety Executive has announced that the service for registering competence is now open.

Fire engineering consultancy OFR Consultants, with the Structural Timber Association (STA), has published its research into cross-laminated timber (CLT) compartment fire behaviour in Volume 6 of the STA’s Structural timber buildings fire safety in use guidance. Its study set out to establish the relationship between different building heights, uses and consequence classes, as well as performance expectations of structures in the event of a fire.

Based on an analysis of incidents logged through its Accident Reporting Portal, the International Powered Access Federation has said that incident reporting has increased over the past year and the fatality rates of the most common types of accidents have declined.

The Building Safety in Wales report on how the Welsh government, local authorities and their key partners are implementing the requirements of the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) has found that responsible bodies – particularly local authorities and fire and rescue – are unable to effectively discharge their responsibilities and ensure buildings in Wales are safe.

The Insulation Manufacturers Association’s Seven Steps to Fire Safety CPD outlines material science, product testing and product classifications, and how this relates to regulations and standards critical to the fire performance of a building.

Abloy UK recommends familiarisation with the amendment by the British Standards Institution (BSI) to Part 4 of BS 7273: Code of practice for the operation of fire protection measures – Actuation of release mechanisms for doors, to enhance security and provide safer means of controlling the unauthorised use of escape doors.

Regulations and the technical detail underpinning the new, more stringent regime for the design and construction of higher-risk buildings bring changes for all buildings.

Details of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) Charging Scheme has been published, ahead of its implementation on 1 October 2023 – we explain what's chargeable, the triggers for charges and who is responsible for paying.

Total Training Development Ltd (TTD) has become the third organisation to obtain approval as an independent competence assessor for England. The Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) and the Building Safety Competence Foundation were named as approved providers earlier this year.

The Building Safety Alliance – a collaborative group of stakeholders from the occupation phase with more than 70 declared supporters, including CABE, has announced its intention to become a charity.

NEW for 2023, CABE’S Built Environment LIVE is coming to London’s ExCel on 5 – 6 December 2023.

A new report has found a wide range of problems facing the building safety profession in Wales, including significant staffing challenges.

L&Q, the social housing provider in England, has been ordered to pay tenants more than £140,000 in compensation after the housing ombudsman found “severe maladministration” in tackling disrepair, and that complaints had received “dismissive” responses.

Collaborative reporting for safer structures. Report 1183 Incompetent design of simple steel beams