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Ronan Point Inquiry

Completed
Chair Hugh Griffiths QC Judge / Judiciary
Established 17 May 1968
Final Report 06 Nov 1968
Commissioned by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Originally commissioned by Minister of Housing (1968)

Inquiry into the partial collapse of Ronan Point tower block in Canning Town on 16 May 1968 following a gas explosion which killed four people.

Historical inquiry (pre-Inquiries Act 2005). Listed for reference — recommendation progress is not actively tracked.
Legacy & Impact
The Ronan Point inquiry was established in May 1968 following the partial collapse of a 22-storey tower block in Canning Town after a gas explosion on the 18th floor. Four people died when a section of the building's corner collapsed progressively from top to bottom. Hugh Griffiths QC's inquiry reported in November 1968, making 19 recommendations focused on structural integrity and gas safety in high-rise buildings.

The inquiry's most significant documented legacy is the Building Regulations 1970 (5th Amendment), which introduced the concept of resistance to disproportionate collapse. This principle remains embedded in Part A of the current Building Regulations. The inquiry also led to the removal of piped gas from high-rise residential buildings and requirements for structural engineering assessments of tall buildings.

The inquiry effectively ended the use of large panel system construction in the UK. However, when Ronan Point was demolished in 1986, investigators found structural joints packed with rubbish and that post-collapse strengthening works had been inadequate. This discovery raised questions about the effectiveness of remedial measures taken after the original collapse.

The Ronan Point inquiry occupies a significant place in the history of UK building safety regulation. Its focus on preventing disproportionate collapse established a principle that continues to shape structural engineering practice. The 2017 Grenfell Tower fire renewed attention to questions about building safety regulation and enforcement that were first raised by Ronan Point, particularly regarding the application of safety standards to existing buildings.
Lasting Reforms
• Building Regulations 1970 (5th Amendment) introduced requirements for resistance to disproportionate collapse, now incorporated in Part A of the Building Regulations
• Disconnection of piped gas supplies from high-rise residential buildings
• Requirement for structural engineering appraisal of buildings over six storeys
• Effective end of large panel system construction methods in the UK
Unfinished Business
• No published evidence of formal implementation reviews of the inquiry's recommendations
• Recommendation for review of regulations governing storage of potentially explosive materials in high blocks (RONA-22)
• Recommendation for improved ventilation in flats in high blocks (RONA-21)
• Broader application of structural safety requirements to non-residential buildings over 100 feet (RONA-35)
Generated 18 Mar 2026 using claude-opus-4. Assessment is indicative, not authoritative.
Key Legislation
Building Regulations 1970 (5th Amendment — Disproportionate Collapse) PRIMARY
Introduced the concept of resistance to disproportionate collapse, now embedded in Part A of the Building Regulations.
Influence & Connections
Informed or shaped Grenfell Tower Inquiry
Ronan Point introduced the concept of resistance to disproportionate collapse in building regulations. The Grenfell Tower fire raised the same fundamental question about the gap between building regulation and safety in practice.
5 months Duration
Inquiry Report
This is a historical inquiry. Per-recommendation tracking is not available. See the Legacy & Impact section above.
Total Recommendations 19
Data verified: 27 Feb 2026 (Claude)
Title Volume Publication Date Recs Links
Ronan Point Inquiry — Final Report - 06 Nov 1968 19

Recommendations (19)

RONA-12
Design system-built blocks to resist internal explosions and progressive collapse
Recommendation

The structure of all system-built blocks should be designed to withstand an internal explosion of a specified intensity without suffering progressive collapse {paragraphs 131, 145}.

Published evidence summary
No specific publicly available evidence directly linking to the implementation of this recommendation has been identified in the provided official sources. The Ronan Point Inquiry was published in 1968, and the provided search results on gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk do not contain specific documents detailing the government's response or implementation progress for this particular recommendation.
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RONA-13
Disconnect gas supply to unstrengthened buildings susceptible to progressive collapse
Recommendation

Until the building has been strengthened the gas supply to it should be disconnected {paragraph 131}.

Published evidence summary
No specific publicly available evidence directly linking to the implementation of this recommendation has been identified in the provided official sources. The Ronan Point Inquiry was published in 1968, and the provided search results on gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk do not contain specific documents detailing the government's response or implementation progress for this particular recommendation.
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RONA-19
Disconnect gas from unstrengthened system-built blocks to prevent progressive collapse
Recommendation

Gas supplies to properties in system-built blocks should be disconnected from those existing tall buildings, until they have been strengthened to prevent progressive collapse {paragraph 161}.

Published evidence summary
No specific publicly available evidence directly linking to the implementation of this recommendation has been identified in the provided official sources. The Ronan Point Inquiry was published in 1968, and the provided search results on gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk do not contain specific documents detailing the government's response or implementation progress for this particular recommendation.
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RONA-20
Extend London Gas Act nationwide, mandate free inspection, refuse unsafe gas
Recommendation
The London Gas Undertakings (Regulations) Act 1939, should be given statutory authority, and extended to cover the whole country, and this obligation should be coupled with the duty of the area Gas Board to inspect, and to refuse supply of … Read more
Published evidence summary
No specific publicly available evidence directly linking to the implementation of this recommendation has been identified in the provided official sources. The Ronan Point Inquiry was published in 1968, and the provided search results on gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk do not contain specific documents detailing the government's response or implementation progress for this particular recommendation.
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RONA-21
Investigate and implement improved ventilation in high-rise flats
Recommendation

Consideration should be given to means of improving ventilation in flats in high blocks {paragraph 172}.

Published evidence summary
No specific publicly available evidence directly linking to the implementation of this recommendation has been identified in the provided official sources. The Ronan Point Inquiry was published in 1968, and the provided search results on gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk do not contain specific documents detailing the government's response or implementation progress for this particular recommendation.
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RONA-22
Review regulations for storing explosive materials in high-rise residential blocks
Recommendation

The Regulations governing the storage of other potentially explosive materials in high blocks of flats should be reviewed {paragraph 173}.

Published evidence summary
No specific publicly available evidence directly linking to the implementation of this recommendation has been identified in the provided official sources. The Ronan Point Inquiry was published in 1968, and the provided search results on gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk do not contain specific documents detailing the government's response or implementation progress for this particular recommendation.
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RONA-23
Inform structural engineers about progressive collapse risk in system-built blocks
Recommendation

The structural engineers concerned with the development of system-built blocks should be made aware of the problem of progressive collapse {paragraph 183}.

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RONA-24
Strengthen existing system-built blocks susceptible to progressive collapse
Recommendation

In system-built blocks that are susceptible to progressive collapse, it is probable that a considerable number of existing blocks are, the structure should be strengthened to prevent progressive collapse {paragraph 192}.

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RONA-25
Design all system-built blocks to resist internal explosions and progressive collapse
Recommendation

All system-built blocks should be designed to withstand an internal explosion of a specified intensity without suffering progressive collapse {paragraphs 129, 188}.

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RONA-26
Design system-built blocks to prevent susceptibility to progressive collapse
Recommendation

The design of system-built blocks should be such that they are not susceptible to progressive collapse {paragraph 190}.

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RONA-29
Appraise tall blocks for progressive collapse, wind loads, and fire resistance
Recommendation
All blocks over six storeys in height should be appraised by a structural engineer: (a) whether they are susceptible to progressive collapse {paragraph 191}; (b) whether they adequately resist the maximum wind loadings which they may experience {paragraph 214}; (c) … Read more
Published evidence summary
No specific publicly available evidence directly linking to the implementation of this recommendation has been identified in the provided official sources. The Ronan Point Inquiry was published in 1968, and the provided search results on gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk do not contain specific documents detailing the government's response or implementation progress for this particular recommendation.
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RONA-30
Disconnect gas from tall blocks susceptible to progressive collapse until strengthened
Recommendation

If any existing tall block is found to be susceptible to progressive collapse, the gas supply should be disconnected until it has been strengthened {paragraph 191}.

Published evidence summary
No specific publicly available evidence directly linking to the implementation of this recommendation has been identified in the provided official sources. The Ronan Point Inquiry was published in 1968, and the provided search results on gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk do not contain specific documents detailing the government's response or implementation progress for this particular recommendation.
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RONA-31
Strengthen blocks inadequately designed to resist wind loads or fire
Recommendation

Where blocks are inadequately designed to deal with wind loads, or fire, they should be adequately strengthened {paragraphs 214 and 216}.

Published evidence summary
No specific publicly available evidence directly linking to the implementation of this recommendation has been identified in the provided official sources. The Ronan Point Inquiry was published in 1968, and the provided search results on gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk do not contain specific documents detailing the government's response or implementation progress for this particular recommendation.
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RONA-32
Inform designers about progressive collapse; design blocks to prevent it
Recommendation

Designers of tall blocks should be made aware of the problem of progressive collapse, and the building should be designed so that it is not susceptible to progressive collapse {paragraph 188}.

Published evidence summary
No specific publicly available evidence directly linking to the implementation of this recommendation has been identified in the provided official sources. The Ronan Point Inquiry was published in 1968, and the provided search results on gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk do not contain specific documents detailing the government's response or implementation progress for this particular recommendation.
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RONA-33
Designers to assess and design for high wind loads until new Code
Recommendation
Until such time as a new Code of Practice has been prepared, designers of tall blocks should ascertain the frequency, duration and velocity of high winds which are likely to be experienced in its lifetime, and design the building accordingly … Read more
Published evidence summary
No specific publicly available evidence directly linking to the implementation of this recommendation has been identified in the provided official sources. The Ronan Point Inquiry was published in 1968, and the provided search results on gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk do not contain specific documents detailing the government's response or implementation progress for this particular recommendation.
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RONA-34
Designers to ensure tall blocks are fire protected until new Code
Recommendation

Until such time as a new Code of Practice has been prepared, designers of tall blocks should ensure that the structure is adequately protected from the effects of fire {paragraph 216}.

Published evidence summary
No specific publicly available evidence directly linking to the implementation of this recommendation has been identified in the provided official sources. The Ronan Point Inquiry was published in 1968, and the provided search results on gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk do not contain specific documents detailing the government's response or implementation progress for this particular recommendation.
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RONA-36
Examine non-system-built tall blocks for adequate wind load resistance
Recommendation

Other tall blocks, not system-built, should be examined as to whether they adequately resist the maximum wind loadings which they may experience {paragraph 214}.

Published evidence summary
No specific publicly available evidence directly linking to the implementation of this recommendation has been identified in the provided official sources. The Ronan Point Inquiry was published in 1968, and the provided search results on gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk do not contain specific documents detailing the government's response or implementation progress for this particular recommendation.
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RONA-46
Revise Fire Regulations for high-rise structural behaviour during normal intensity fires
Recommendation

The Fire Regulations should be revised to take account of the behaviour of the structure of high rise buildings in the event of fire of normal intensity {paragraph 216}.

Published evidence summary
No specific published evidence has been identified in the provided official sources detailing the revision of Fire Regulations to specifically account for the behaviour of the structure as a whole and the effect of fire on structural integrity, as recommended by the Ronan Point Inquiry. Generic searches for 'fire regulations' on gov.uk did not yield specific documents confirming this action.
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RONA-47
Ensure Building Regulations and Codes of Practice are kept updated with new knowledge
Recommendation

The Ministry of Housing and Local Government should take urgent steps to ensure that the Building Regulations and Codes of Practice are kept up to date, and that they are revised as soon as new knowledge becomes available {paragraph 217}.

Published evidence summary
No specific published evidence has been identified in the provided official sources indicating that the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, or its successor bodies, was granted statutory powers to require local authorities to obtain structural engineer certificates for the safety of tall buildings, as recommended by the Ronan Point Inquiry. Generic searches on gov.uk did not yield specific documents confirming this action.
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