Read the LGA statement on the Grenfell Tower Fire.
Further LGA comment:
The horrific events at Grenfell Tower reinforce the importance of fire safety legislation, regulations and guidance. Find out more about guidance on fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats. Councils will also of course want to liaise with their local Fire and Rescue Service and consider any advice they may have.
DCLG has written to chief executives and is making calls to councils to seek information on the number of tower blocks over six stories. The LGA is working closely with DCLG, Home Office, the National Fire Chiefs Council, Homes and Communities Agency, London Councils and others to try and ensure that such requests and any follow-up action are as well coordinated as possible.
The LGA has been told by councils that work is going on to cover the following:
- Establishing which tower blocks councils own or manage (including through a Tenant Management Organisation, Estate Management Board, Arms Length Management Organisation or Registered Social Landlord) that have been refurbished.
- Ensuring any building control sign-off has taken into account the guidance above (for example, paragraphs 72.1-2 on cladding. Some councils are instructing independent specialists to check cladding and the way it was installed).
- Establishing if there is an up to date fire risk assessment that has been produced since the refurbishment and who carried it out.
- Confirming that where a block is designed on the compartmentalisation principle, no work at any time since its construction has compromised that principle. Some councils are considering reviewing fire compartmentation reports.
- Reviewing the fire safety advice given to residents in light of the outcomes of the above actions and in line with the guidance.