NHBC’s Combustible Oversight

Summary

The NHBC admitted to prioritizing workload over thorough scrutiny of combustible materials, a decision linked to the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Changes to UK building regulations now restrict combustible materials in certain high-rise buildings. These changes aim to enhance safety and accountability within the construction industry.

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** Main Story**

Okay, so, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry… It really did bring some uncomfortable truths to light, didn’t it? One of the most alarming things to come out of it was the National House Building Council’s (NHBC) admission. Basically, they said they’d been prioritizing getting through their workload faster than actually, you know, making sure buildings were safe. Which, when you say it out loud… is pretty messed up.

They’re a big deal in the UK for building control approvals, so for them to admit they sort of skimped on checking combustible materials in high-rises? It’s not good.

The NHBC’s defense, if you can call it that, revolved around their 2016 guidance. Essentially, it made it easier to approve cladding, the kind that fueled the Grenfell fire. No mandatory fire tests, less rigorous studies. A far cry from the stricter standards they used to have – standards that insisted on materials being ‘limited combustibility,’ or passing large-scale fire tests, especially for buildings over 18 meters.

John Lewis, a fire engineer at the NHBC, said the changes were because the old way was “time-consuming.” You can imagine the reaction. To think that efficiency was put before resident’s safety… it’s chilling. We all know the Grenfell Tower fire resulted in 72 deaths, and it exposed just how broken building safety regulations were at the time. It’s something that’s never left my mind.

After Grenfell: Rebuilding Regulations

Thankfully, Grenfell forced the UK to take a long, hard look at its building regulations. The Building Safety Act 2022, in particular, is a big deal. It lays out new rules for high-rise residential buildings – that’s anything 18 meters or seven stories and higher – and emphasizes safety and accountability. I think there are some really solid provisions in it.

Key Changes:

• No More Combustible Cladding: The Act banned combustible materials in external walls for a bunch of buildings, including high-rise apartments, student housing, hospitals, and even boarding schools, if they’re over 18 meters. They have to meet pretty strict European standards now: Class A2-s1, d0, or Class A1.

• Dutyholders Now Accountable: Everyone involved in a construction project now has specific safety responsibilities. This ensures building safety is always a top concern from start to finish.

• New Building Control: The Act creates a whole new building control system for high-risk buildings. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) is the new sheriff in town, making sure everyone plays by the rules.

• The ‘Golden Thread’: There is also now a mandate to maintain a “golden thread” of information for each building, it should track crucial safety information. The idea is to keep everything transparent and accountable throughout a building’s whole life, it will enhance transparency and accountability.

Time will tell

So, these changes rolled out in phases, starting in October 2023. Now, developers need the BSR’s okay for new high-rises and any big changes to existing ones. The BSR is also checking to make sure “accountable persons” are doing their jobs when it comes to assessing and managing building safety risks. A much welcome change.

Will these changes stick, and actually make a difference? It’s still early days. I mean, we’re in March 2025 now, and the full impact is still playing out. What I will say is, vigilance will be key. We can’t afford to let complacency creep back in. And if anything isn’t working, there needs to be the flexibility to adapt and improve the regulations. Ultimately, it’s about making sure nothing like Grenfell ever happens again, isn’t it?