Lakanal House fire report prompts call for action

The Passive Fire Protection Federation (PFPF) is calling for action to improve public safety in all types of buildings following the report on the Lakanal House fire.

David Sugden, chairman of the PFPF believes two areas urgently need to be addressed: “How to reduce risk to levels that are ‘suitable and sufficient’ and how to bring older properties up to modern standards, without knocking down and starting again, are fundamental issues that the government must look at in detail. We may not solve these problems straight away but it is essential that they are on the agenda. The PFPF is available to assist the regulators in any way at this time.”

Released on Friday by John Denham, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the report acknowledges the fundamental roles that built-in or ‘passive’ fire protection and compartmentation play in the Fire Strategy of buildings (Section 5.4). David Sugden added: “These have been required by the Building Regulations for many years and the industry produces comprehensive guidance. This includes a programme of Third Party Certification schemes that enable regulators, the client and any contractors working for a client, to ensure that the correct products are installed by suitably qualified people. The fire protection industry has long promoted this but the wider construction trades must also come on board.”

Extensive guidance on best practice when designing with and using passive fire protection systems is also available from www.pfpf.org and from each of its member associations.