Scottish Labour MSP David Stewart has launched a new members’ bill on fire safety in social housing following the Grenfell Tower disaster
NEW LEGISLATION is being proposed to install sprinklers in all new social housing across Scotland following the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Scottish Labour MSP David Stewart has launched a new fire safety bill that will place a duty of care on local authorities and housing associations to install sprinklers in new-build social housing.
Stewart will launch a consultation on the members’ bill over the coming months, and as part of the consultation he is considering what action could be taken in the private rented sector.
According to Stewart, the tragic events of the Grenfell Tower disaster brought fire safety to the ”forefront of many people’s minds”.
“I believe Scotland should follow the example of Wales and pass legislation to make the installation of sprinklers in all new dwellings compulsory.” David Stewart MSP
Stewart said: “There is a small gap in our legislation that I think can be filled by a common sense proposal that will save lives.
“Labour in government had a proud record of improving fire safety by passing the Buildings Act 2003 which required sprinklers in schools, residential care buildings and high rise domestic buildings.”
Stewart added: “Now, I believe Scotland should follow the example of Wales and pass legislation to make the installation of sprinklers in all new dwellings compulsory.
“That is why I am proposing a bill to make sure all newly built social housing have a sprinkler system installed. This is a simple change in the law that will save lives.”
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) welcomed the proposals from the Highland MSP, and said it supports any new legislation that will enhance fire safety to the communities of Scotland.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) welcomed the proposals from the Highland MSP, and said it supports any new legislation that will enhance fire safety to the communities of Scotland.
FBU regional official Denise Christie said: “At the recent local government and communities committee evidence session on building regulations and fire safety, the FBU’s submission recommended that Scotland should follow the example of Wales and pass legislation to make the installation of sprinklers in all new dwellings compulsory.
“The Grenfell Tower tragedy is the worse loss of life in a fire in peacetime Britain, and we owe it to the victims, victims’ families and residents of Grenfell to do everything we can to avoid any future tragedy’s. Government needs to listen to fire-fighters if it is going to address clear deficiencies in fire safety standards. This Fire Safety Member’s Bill is a step in the right direction and we hope every MSP gets behind it and supports.”
An estimated 80 people died when a fire ripped through the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block in West London in June. The final death toll remains unknown because of the intensity of the fire and the difficulty faced by authorities to comb through the wreckage.
An estimated 80 people died when a fire ripped through the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block in West London in June.
Police and fire services believe that the fire started accidentally in a fridge freezer on the fourth floor. However, the rapid growth of the fire was caused by the building’s exterior cladding, which is commonly used across the UK on high rise tower blocks. There is currently an independent review into building regulations and fire safety across the UK.
Within days of the disaster, Prime Minister Theresa May set up the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which will start taking evidence later this month.
Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) policy lead David Stewart said: “We now know that no social housing in Scotland has the type of cladding implicated as a significant cause of the spread of the fire at Grenfell.
“We must not be complacent, however, and must learn from the event. The SFHA has been working with Scottish Government and SFRS on a plan to communicate fire safety information to residents. We will also be working with members to respond to the Scottish Government consultation on fire and smoke alarms in Scotland’s homes.
“The ministerial working group overseeing this process will consider all relevant measures to ensure the safety of residents in high-rise domestic buildings.” Scottish Government
“From our discussions with members and partners, we believe that fire safety is an issue that needs to be considered in the round – for example, there is concern that in properties sold through the right-to-buy policy in multi-storey buildings, fire doors may have been replaced by standard doors and owner occupiers in older properties do not have to have fire or smoke alarms. We will be considering these and other issues as the sector seeks to learn lessons from the tragedy.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “While we are confident that we have stringent building and fire safety regulations which contribute to keeping people safe, following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower we are now undertaking a thorough and critical review of our regulations.
“The ministerial working group overseeing this process will consider all relevant measures to ensure the safety of residents in high-rise domestic buildings, including a review of evidence on fire suppression systems including sprinklers.”
Since 2005, building regulations have required an automatic fire suppression system to be installed in new buildings such as residential care facilities, high rise flats (floor level 18m above ground level) and school buildings.
Picture courtesy of Amber Consumed
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