The recent devastating Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 highlighted the need for a comprehensive and robust approach to fire safety management in the UK. As a response to this tragedy, the British Standards Institution (BSI) has developed BS 8644-1:2022, a standard that provides recommendations for the digital management of fire safety information. This standard is part of a larger effort to overhaul and modernise the building regulations in the UK through the Building Safety Act of 2021.
The Building Safety Act, which was recently passed and comprises of six parts and 11 schedules with a total of 171 clauses, has been described as a “generational reform program” for building safety in the UK. It aims to establish a new building safety regulator with powers to enforce building safety for all buildings in England, as well as introduce new concepts for building safety.
One of the key elements of the Building Safety Act is the creation of a new building safety regulator that will have oversight over all buildings in England. This includes not only residential buildings but also commercial and industrial buildings. This marks a significant shift from the current system where building regulations are primarily focused on residential buildings.
But perhaps the most significant aspect of the Building Safety Act is its aim to drive cultural change within the construction industry. This was a key recommendation from the independent review of building regulations and fire safety, led by Dame Judith Hackitt, following the Grenfell Tower fire. The Act addresses this directly by introducing measures to promote greater responsibility and accountability among all parties involved in the design, construction, and operation of buildings.
The Act also emphasizes the importance of resident’s voices in building safety management. It aims to give residents more say in decision-making processes when it comes to their own homes, as well as providing them with greater access to information about their buildings.
In addition, the Building Safety Act extends the scope of the defective premises act which will give homeowners more grounds to seek compensation for shoddy construction work. It also establishes a new regulator for construction products, as well as a national oversight framework for these products. This will help ensure that all construction products used in buildings meet the necessary safety standards.
The Act also introduces the concept of the “golden thread” of information, which refers to the digital record of a building’s design, construction, and operation. This is an important part of fire safety management as it ensures that vital information about a building is easily accessible to those responsible for its management and maintenance. This is where BS 8644-1 comes into play.
BS 8644-1:2022 provides recommendations for the digital management of fire safety information, including fire risk assessments, evacuation plans, and maintenance records. It has been developed with input from a wide range of industry experts, including regulators, local and national government, design houses, developers, housing associations, and others.
The standard has been in development for five years and went through a public consultation process where extensive comments were received and incorporated into the final version. Aman Sharma, the managing director of Totus Digital and deputy chair of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee (BRAC), was instrumental in its development as he led on fire safety and Part B regulations.
The standard covers various aspects of fire safety management, including creating a secure and accessible digital repository for all relevant information, establishing clear roles and responsibilities for managing fire safety information, and ensuring that information is regularly reviewed and updated as needed.
Another crucial aspect of BS 8644-1 is its emphasis on collaboration and communication between different parties involved in building management. This is to ensure that all relevant information is shared accurately and efficiently between key stakeholders. For example, if there are any changes or updates to a building’s fire risk assessment, this information can quickly be communicated to the appropriate parties, such as firefighters or building managers.
In conclusion, the Building Safety Act and BS 8644-1:2022 mark a significant shift towards a more comprehensive and digital approach to fire safety management. With the introduction of a new building safety regulator and a renewed focus on promoting responsibility and accountability within the construction industry, there is hope that tragedies like the Grenfell Tower fire can be avoided in the future. The golden thread of information provided by BS 8644-1 will play a crucial role in this by ensuring that all relevant fire safety information is easily accessible and up-to-date, leading to safer buildings and communities.
