How is Scotland improving fire safety?

In June 2017 – on the day after the Grenfell Tower fire – a Scottish government ministerial working group (MWG) on building and fire safety was set up to review regulatory frameworks and other relevant issues. The initial focus of the group was on high rise domestic buildings but it has also considered other buildings including housing, the NHS estate, schools and prisons.

A review panel on fire safety building standards in Scotland established by the MWG brought together an experienced group of fire safety engineers and specialists, along with representatives of the major construction bodies in Scotland and the various regulators. It was supported by a small international group of fire safety regulators, who ensured that there was an appropriate degree of reflection and benchmarking after each meeting.

Following the publication of the review panel's report in 2018, ministers have taken steps to implement the recommendations for increasing safety in high-rise buildings, in particular residential premises.

These recommendations included: introducing a better mechanism for verifying fire safety engineering on complex buildings; changes to guidance on external cladding, cavities, fire spread on external walls, and escape routes; and extending the requirement for automatic fire suppression systems to additional building groups. This article details the different measures being taken.

The note has been drafted to help building owners and managers and risk assessors determine fire risk, and also explains how more detailed wall appraisals by specialists such as chartered fire engineers or surveyors can support risk assessments, where required.

The document therefore uses the same benchmark methodology as such risk assessments, with criteria including fire compartmentation and separation, internal and external fire spread, means of escape, fire detection and warning systems, and ensuring access for fire service vehicles.

Ultimately, the decision on whether any element – including cladding – poses an unacceptable risk to life is down to the professional judgement of the risk assessor. The guidance can only offer benchmarks and information to help that decision, as each assessment is building-specific.

In light of the Grenfell Tower tragedy and evidence from subsequent UK government fire tests the guidance recommends the removal of Category 3 metal composite materials (MCMs) – including aluminium composites – from all residential buildings, regardless of height.

The categories of MCM panels adopted as part of the BRE screening tests sponsored by MHCLG post Grenfell have been indicated as Category 1 (limited combustibility Calorific Value ≤ 3 MJ/Kg), Category 2 (fire resistant – FR >3 and ≤ 35 MJ/Kg) and Category 3 (non-FR > 35 MJ/Kg.)

Partially clad buildings with category 3 MCMs should be risk-assessed, and the document offers more detailed guidance on this process.

Under this new requirement, every home in Scotland must have a smoke alarm fitted in the living room or lounge, and in circulation spaces such as hallways and landings.

Every kitchen will also be required to have a heat alarm, which must be interlinked with the smoke alarms so they can be heard throughout the property. Furthermore, there must also be a carbon monoxide alarm where there are fixed combustion appliances.

However, the Scottish government has listened to public concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and asked Holyrood to delay implementation of these changes from February 2021 to February 2022, to give people more time to carry out this important safety work.

The regulatory change will require automatic fire suppression systems to be installed in all new flats and maisonettes, social housing and multi-occupancy dwellings with more than 6 residents from 1 March 2021 applying to buildings of any height in those categories.

The inventory has been developed as a central source of information, providing an overview of the key aspects of high-rise domestic buildings in Scotland, including their fire safety features.

The data has been gathered by the Scottish government's Scottish Exchange of Data, and continues a project commissioned from professional services company Capita in 2018. Local authority building standards departments completed the inventory for all relevant buildings, with data provided or verified to the best of the respondents' knowledge at the time of completing the inventory, and it should therefore be treated as a snapshot in time.

This marks the first inventory of 774 high-rise domestic buildings in Scotland, and the intention is to update the report on an annual basis. The data gathered may be developed over time to ensure that it provides an accurate picture of fire safety in high-rise buildings and can be used to direct future policy, legislation and guidance.

The board is considering taking further measures in implementing the recommendations. Officials will also assess what legislative changes are required, with any reforms subject to public consultation.

It will also consider: whether changes are required in the technical handbooks to mandatory standard 2.7, concerning fire spread on external walls; the role of the large-scale facade fire test BS 8414; and the question of competency in designing, installing and verifying cladding systems.

This review, which is envisaged to last 12 months, will be advised by appropriate experts using the most up-to-date evidence to recommend further changes to building standards, if required.

The safety of people in the built environment continues to be a priority for the Scottish government, and although we are confident in our building standards we are not complacent. This is why we undertook reviews, sought expert advice, and have implemented the recommendations made. We will also consider any evidence emerging from or recommendations made by the ongoing Grenfell Tower fire inquiry.

Related competencies include: Fire safety, Legal/regulatory compliance