How does the UK control fire safety in buildings?

Grenfell Tower apartment fire in London on June 14, 2017. (Photo: EPA)

Following the Grenfell Tower fire in London in 2017 that killed 71 people, the British government tightened fire safety controls after an independent inquiry into the fire published in 2019 recommended the government change the law.

In 2022, the UK Government enacted the Fire Safety Act, effective from January 2023, detailing the legal obligations of relevant parties in ensuring fire safety in office and public buildings and high-rise apartment buildings and imposing strict penalties.

Under new legislation, owners of high-rise apartment buildings in the UK must provide fire and rescue services with the information they need to develop a response plan in the event of a fire/incident, and must provide fire safety guidance to building residents.

The information that the apartment owner must provide to the fire prevention and rescue agency includes the building diagram and the fire prevention and fighting equipment diagram of the building; the design and materials of the building's external wall system. This information must be updated to the authorities when there are changes.

For residents, apartment owners must provide fire safety instructions, including instructions on fire doors in fire safety, how to report a fire and how to handle a fire based on the building's evacuation plan, and must train residents on fire safety, especially how to use emergency doors and escape routes.

Regarding fire prevention and fighting requirements, apartment buildings must always have 2 emergency exits, must have a fire detection and warning system, emergency lights and fire fighting equipment; must install a safety information box, which provides a diagram of the floors and fire prevention and fighting equipment in the building and contact information of those responsible for the building; and install signs such as apartment numbers, floor numbers, emergency exit signs, etc. These signs must be clearly visible in low light or smoke conditions.

Apartment owners must periodically check the operation of evacuation elevators and elevators and fire fighting equipment that firefighters will use in case of fire, ensure that the fire alarm system and fire fighting equipment are always working properly, and that the fire exits in the building are always clear and easy to open.

Apartment owners are responsible for reporting to the fire department when fire protection equipment is damaged and cannot be repaired within 24 hours.

For apartment buildings higher than 11m, apartment owners must periodically inspect the apartment doors (fire doors) annually and inspect all fire doors in common areas of the building quarterly.

The apartment owner is also obliged to carry out a fire risk assessment of the building and regularly re-assess, inform residents of possible risks; develop a fire safety plan and an evacuation plan, ensuring that all exits are clear; easily visible, easily accessible, and have enough exits for all residents.

Buildings must ensure that fire protection equipment is always in good working order. (Source: Croner-i)

Similar fire prevention regulations also apply to office buildings and public buildings, with building owners and employers having similar obligations and responsibilities.

In the UK, fire safety regulations are strictly enforced. Local fire and rescue authorities visit buildings periodically and irregularly to check that fire risk assessments and fire safety measures are adequate and to make informal recommendations where fire safety measures are inadequate.

In case the inspection finds that the building has a high risk or a serious risk beyond control in terms of fire safety, the fire department will issue a notice to enforce fire safety measures or even order a ban on the use of the building if it finds a serious fire risk.

Where the fire department has advised or notified the building owner of fire prevention measures but fails to take them, or seriously violates the regulations on fire prevention measures to the extent that it causes a risk of death or serious injury in the event of a fire, the building owner may be subject to an unlimited fine and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years.

Other violations such as intentionally falsifying fire prevention and fighting records, providing false information or obstructing inspectors, and failing to provide information will also be strictly handled.

Police said one of the key factors was the strict implementation of the construction permitting process for buildings, including apartment blocks - from construction to commercial use - with close coordination between local authorities (in the UK, local councils), the Fire Service and the police force.

To grant a permit to build an apartment building, in addition to the legal requirements on fire prevention and fighting, the Local Council carefully considers factors that ensure fire prevention and fighting safety, such as whether the construction site has sufficient conditions to carry out fire fighting in case of fire, whether the general infrastructure conditions such as electricity, water lines, etc. meet the fire prevention and fighting safety requirements when building a new apartment building in the area, whether the construction of a new apartment building affects the fire prevention and fighting safety of residents in existing buildings in the area, etc.

After the Local Council, the project must be reviewed by the Fire Department and local police agency to ensure technical requirements for fire prevention and security.

Investors must strictly comply with the law if they do not want to lose money invested in the project. (Source: BBC)

Before approval, information about the project is posted at the construction site for 2 weeks so that people can comment on the impact of the construction on the security and safety of the area.

After being licensed and construction completed, the project must be accepted by these three agencies, fully meeting the requirements according to regulations and in accordance with the initially approved design, before being licensed for use.

According to the London Metropolitan Police, granting a commercial use permit forces investors to strictly comply with the law if they do not want to lose money invested in the project.

Fire departments also have a great responsibility in ensuring fire safety. In addition to firefighting, fire departments must conduct daily inspections of fire prevention and fighting in their areas of responsibility and thoroughly handle violations, closely monitoring the implementation of corrective measures.

More importantly, this force must have a firm grasp of the area and develop detailed fire fighting plans for each building in the area to proactively mobilize appropriate personnel and equipment when an incident occurs.

Apartment owners in the UK also attach importance to preparing rescue and evacuation plans to implement in case of fire.

People working in the building such as administrative management, engineering, security, and service must be trained regularly and periodically in fire prevention and fighting, and certain positions must have a fire prevention and fighting training certificate.

According to the UK Home Office , from April 2022 to the end of March 2023, England firefighters participated in fighting more than 178,700 indoor fires, up 17% over the same period, and 116,690 outdoor fires, up 27% over last year, 24% over 5 years ago and 51% over 10 years ago.

During the period from April 2022 to March 2023, there were 259 fire deaths, down more than 5% compared to last year, down 23% compared to five years ago and down 9.4% compared to 10 years ago.

VNA

Source: http://www.baovanhoa.vn/the-gioi/artmid/425/articleid/69776/nuoc-anh-kiem-soat-an-toan-chay-no-trong-cac-toa-nha-nhu-the-nao