A professional architecture body has called for the reintroduction of the clerk of works role on construction projects, following the Grenfell fire.
In a series of 12 recommendations submitted to the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) has called for the recognition of the “forgotten professionals” in the construction supply chain.
The Guild also highlighted the need for mandatory fire door inspection in the UK, and for larger fines for non-compliance, as well as calling for the return of the clerk of works role on site.
Consultant Pellings told CM in September that it had doubled the number of clerks of works it employs, due to increasing demand from construction clients.
The independent review was launched in the wake of June’s Grenfell Tower fire, with a call for evidence from key construction industry organisations, which is being led by Dame Judith Hackitt.
The GAI urged the review team to examine a range of documents which contain contradictions or ambiguity. It said it has identified at least 18 separate documents and legislation that are relevant to fire safety specifically within the architectural ironmongery and the allied fire door industries, which it thinks should be given more clarity.
The Guild’s submission says that many of the standards within the industry are not mandatory for building construction, such as BS 8300 relating to accessibility, and are seen purely as best practice guidance.
“For architects and other construction professionals, this can cause confusion as to what guidelines they should be following resulting in inconsistency and error,” it added.
The GAI also emphasised the importance of third-party certification of fire safety products and the need for a mandatory installer registration scheme for the installation of fire doors.
Douglas Masterson, technical manager at the GAI, said: “The guild’s response has been formed from the collective opinion of the architectural ironmongery industry, including very experienced professionals who have worked around the world on complex fire safety issues. Fire door hardware and other aspects of ironmongery specification play a crucial role in fire safety. The voice of these professionals must not be lost in critical discussions on safety and standards.”
The GAI’s key recommendations:
- There should be mandatory usage of fully qualified architectural ironmongers to compile an ironmongery specification.
- A similar mandatory scheme to Gas Safe should be adopted into law for installation of fire doors.
- Fire door inspection should be mandatory in the UK in similar fashion to the US and Australia. Heavy fines should be levied for non-compliance.
- Third-party certification of fire safety products should be mandatory.
- There needs to be an individual who is tasked with the sign-off of each stage in the process which is related to fire safety. This should include any deviation away from accepted and original signed-off specification.
- There should be a complete review of the sign-off process with the introduction of a mandatory sign-off procedure similar to the Building Control Amendment Regulations 2014 (BCAR) in the Republic of Ireland.
- The role and position of the clerk of works on site should be re-introduced as a means of ensuring on site compliance in installation.
- Approved Document B should be revised to remove ambiguities and be much clearer to understand.
- Approved Documents in general should be written in such a way that the requirements of each one do not contradict another.
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 should be amended to provide greater involvement of the fire service with regards to the sign-off of buildings
- The responsible person should be named on the Health and Safety poster with a contact number giving the realistic times for when a person will answer.
- A clear and transparent mechanism should be available which allows tenants to contact the responsible person/local authority/Building Control to report concerns on fire safety.
Image: Katie Nesling/Dreamstime
