Building & Fire Safety

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.

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

Concerns over the government’s requirements for a second staircase in new residential buildings over 18m in height.

A report submitted to the Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS-UK) singles out poor practices that contributed to a Grade 1 listed church being badly damaged by a fire while renovation was taking place on its lead roof. 

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published Regulations under the Building Safety Act 2022, delivering Dame Judith Hackitt's recommendations in her report Building A Safer Future.

In this video, CABE's Richard Harral and CIBSE's Hywel Davies discuss key challenges for industry professionals.

The UK government has confirmed its intention to mandate second staircases in
new residential buildings above 18m as part of its long-term plan for housing
across England.

A structural engineer has reported a defective truss system to the Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS-UK) after it triggered the partial collapse of a primary school hall’s roof. 

CABE has become the first professional engineering institution to receive a licence from the Engineering Council to offer HRB Registration.

A consultation on proposed amendments to Part E (Fire safety) of the Building Regulations and guidance in Technical Booklet E (Fire safety) in Northern Ireland has been launched.

The National Access & Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) has announced the appointment of Clive Dickin as its new Chief Executive.

Last Wednesday (22 June) saw the continuation of CABE’s Built Environment series, with the CABE team, members and experts alike gathering at Cardiff Metropolitan University for Built Environment Wales.