Parliament
206 mentions of the inquiry in Parliament since June 2017: debates, written questions and statements, oral questions and early day motions, from Hansard.
Buildings: Safety
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data her Department holds on trends in the number of complaints about building safety in non-high-rise properties following developers being permitted to use non-local authority building inspectors.
The Department does not hold specific data on trends in the number of complaints related to private sector building control bodies. Since April 2024, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has overseen the performance of building control professionals and bodies, including private Registered Building Control Approvers, under a framework of Operational Standards Rules. The BSR monitors and analyses performance to improve standards across the sector.
In response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Report, the Government established the Building Control Independent Panel to consider the future of building control, including the role of commercial interests. The Government has accepted the principles of the Panel’s proposals for reform and agrees that change must be proportionate, carefully sequenced, and built on work already in place. The Government will respond more fully to the Panel’s recommendations in due course.
Read full answer →Doors: Fire Prevention
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of pausing the proposed move from the British fire door safety testing standard to the European Standard until the review of that standard has been completed.
The withdrawal of National Classes fire testing standards (BS 476) from Approved Document B in favour of the European Standard (BS EN 13501) aimed to enhance fire protection by simplifying compliance routes within the guidance. This change makes it easier and clearer to ensure products meet required standards and enables simpler performance comparison.
The suitability of BS 476 and the transition to the EN standard was scrutinised during the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The EN suite of standards, unlike the BS 476 series, is constantly reviewed, periodically updated, and does not rely on withdrawn standards. The EN suite of standards is therefore seen as more suitable in the long term. The consultation response published alongside the Written Statement on 2 September 2024 shows a majority of respondents were in support of moving to the European Standard.
We recognised the potential economic impact of this transition, particularly for sectors such as bespoke timber fire doors, cavity barriers, and smoke vents, through the consultation response impact analysis. In response, a five-year transition period was introduced for fire resistance classifications, running from 2 September 2024 to 2 September 2029. This extended period was developed in consultation with industry to allow sufficient time for retesting and certification under the new standard.
While concerns have been raised about the timing of the transition, we remain committed to the planned timeline. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will continue to monitor the impact of the change and support industry through the transition. BSR will keep these standards under review as part of their continuous review of Approved Document B, in line with their duty under the Building Safety Act to keep the safety and standards of building under review in England.
Read full answer →Doors: Fire Prevention
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the evidential basis is for removing the national BS 476-22 classification for fire door resistance from Approved Document B.
The withdrawal of National Classes fire testing standards (BS 476) from Approved Document B in favour of the European Standard (BS EN 13501) aimed to enhance fire protection by simplifying compliance routes within the guidance. This change makes it easier and clearer to ensure products meet required standards and enables simpler performance comparison.
The suitability of BS 476 and the transition to the EN standard was scrutinised during the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. The EN suite of standards, unlike the BS 476 series, is constantly reviewed, periodically updated, and does not rely on withdrawn standards. The EN suite of standards is therefore seen as more suitable in the long term. The consultation response published alongside the Written Statement on 2 September 2024 shows a majority of respondents were in support of moving to the European Standard.
We recognised the potential economic impact of this transition, particularly for sectors such as bespoke timber fire doors, cavity barriers, and smoke vents, through the consultation response impact analysis. In response, a five-year transition period was introduced for fire resistance classifications, running from 2 September 2024 to 2 September 2029. This extended period was developed in consultation with industry to allow sufficient time for retesting and certification under the new standard.
While concerns have been raised about the timing of the transition, we remain committed to the planned timeline. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) will continue to monitor the impact of the change and support industry through the transition. BSR will keep these standards under review as part of their continuous review of Approved Document B, in line with their duty under the Building Safety Act to keep the safety and standards of building under review in England.
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