Press release: Dame Judith Hackitt hears from industry working groups

This week, Dame Judith Hackitt hosted a meeting of the Chairs of the working groups which were formed following the Independent Review’s interim report publication in December and Summit meeting in January.

The working groups were asked to consider how to develop elements of a more effective building regulations and fire safety system, taking forward the directions of travel identified by Dame Judith in her interim report.

We had an overwhelming response for people to be involved. To ensure the groups were able to respond in a timely manner, it was necessary to restrict the size but group chairs were encouraged to consult as widely as possible when developing their advice.

The inputs of the working groups will be made available after the final report.

Dame Judith praised the commitment of the working groups, all of which have met multiple times over a 6-week period and thanked them for the quality of their contributions.

She will now consider their advice as she develops the recommendations of her final report, intended to deliver the systemic overhaul and culture change required of the building regulations and fire safety system to make sure the people are safe, and feel safe, in the homes that they live in.

Dame Judith Hackitt’s final report will be published in the spring.

Dame Judith and the Independent Review Team would like to thank the following organisations and experts for their contributions.

A list of participants in Dame Judith Hackitt’s January summit has also been published today.

Working Group 1: Construction and Design

Chair

Rachel White, Institute for Civil Engineers

Members

• ACAI
• Build UK
• Construction Leadership Council
• Health and Safety Executive
• Institute of Fire Engineers
• Local Authority Building Control
• National Fire Chiefs Council
• National House Building Council
• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
• Royal Institute of British Architects

Working Sub-Group 1b: Procurement

Chair

Paul Nash, Chartered Institute of Building

Members

• Construction Industry Council
• Crown Commercial Services
• Home Builders Federation
• Kier Services
• Local Government Association
• Telford Homes

Working Group 2: Occupation and Maintenance

Chair

Nick Coombe, National Fire Chiefs Council

Members

• Association of British Insurers
• Association of Residential Managing Agents
• British Institute of Facilities Management
• Health and Safety Executive
• Leasehold Advisory Service
• Local Government Association
• National Fire Chiefs Council
• National Housing Federation
• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors

Working Sub-Group 1 & 2: Golden Thread

This group looked at how to ensure an accurate record of high risk/complex buildings is compiled during the design and construction phase, and then handed to the person responsible for managing the building during occupation.

Chair

Independent Review Team

Members

• National Fire Chiefs Council
• Local Authority Building Control
• Construction Products Association
• National Housing Federation
• Health and Safety Executive
• Institution of Fire Engineers
• Digital Built Britain

Working Group 3: Regulations and Guidance

Chair

Peter Caplehorn, Construction Products Association

Members

• Building Research Establishment
• Build UK
• Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers
• Fire Industry Association
• Health and Safety Executive
• Local Authority Building Control
• National Fire Chiefs Council

Working Group 4: Competence

Chair

Graham Watts, Construction Industry Council

Members

• BUILDUK
• CICAIR
• Chartered Institute of Building
• Construction Industry Training Board
• Engineering Council
• Fire Industry Association
• Fire Protection Association
• Institution of Fire Engineers
• Local Authority Building Control
• National Fire Chiefs Council
• Royal Institute of British Architects
• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
• School of Engineering University of Edinburgh

Working Group 5: Residents’ Voice

Chair

Darren Hartley, Tenants and Resident Organisations of England

Members

• Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA)
• British Property Federation
• Camden Leaseholders Forum, nominated by LEASE
• Confederation of Co-operative Housing
• Fire Industry Association
• Local Government Association
• National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations
• Optivo Homes, nominated by National Housing Federation
• Shelter
• Tenant Participation Advisory Service (Tpas)

Working Group 6: Quality Assurance and Products

Chair

Dr. Debbie Smith, Building Research Establishment (BRE)

Members

• British Board of Agrement
• British Standards Institution
• Centre for Fire and Hazards Science, University of Central Lancashire
• Construction Products Association
• Fire Industry Association
• Fire Protection Association
• Institution of Fire Engineers
• National Fire Chiefs Council
• United Kingdom Accreditation Service