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November 07 2018 Brunton's Blog | General
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Brunton’s Blog
07/11/2018
Brunton’s Blog: The implementation process of the Hackitt Review
At our recent autumn Technical Committee meeting I provided an update on the post-Grenfell Hackitt Review and the resulting government and industry responses. A number of relevant questions were tabled by members demonstrating their interest and highlighting the complexity of the issues we now face. It was clear to me that a better overview was needed for members in order to fully appreciate the challenges ahead for our industry.
In this piece I will try to summarise the ongoing work and where SPRA is involved attempting to influence positively. It is important to note that the path forward is by no means clear except to say industry has to focus on the recommendations of the Hackitt Review which highlighted a number of major serious issues concerning how we design, procure, build and maintain buildings.
The construction industry has to come up with meaningful implementation focussed solutions within a compressed timescale (before June 2019). Among others, the CPA (Construction Products Association) is co-ordinating the response on behalf of the industry. Between now and June 2019, twelve working groups will meet regularly to attempt to find a way forward based on the Hackitt Review recommendations. The brief is not restricted to issues solely related to fire performance but broadens to include competence in all aspects of construction from design to aftercare of buildings and all in between.
There is an exceptional volume of work being carried out at government and industry levels to attempt to give the public the necessary assurances that progress is being made. Hopefully this will ensure that such a tragedy will never happen again. Also, the Hackitt recommendations target the culture change necessary, thus creating a better industry overall, but most importantly enable the public to be and feel safer in the buildings they occupy.
The 12 Working Groups are shown below and how the overall IRG structure is organised.
Structure: IRG Competence for Building a Safer Future
These 12 Working Groups collectively represent the industry, and all who interact with it, to deliver a safe, quality orientated end product. SPRA is represented directly on two of these groups, WG 2 Installers and WG 12 Products. These particular working groups closely represent our members interests.
While WG 2 has yet to begin working in earnest, WG 12 has been up and running since early October. WG 12 is looking at all aspects of competence and how this term, specifically, relates to Products. Consideration has already started by attempting to understand what is meant by competence, defining it in the context of the construction industry. Again, these issues are close to the core of what SPRA is, in part, concerned about, trying to improve the quality of single ply roof installations. This is done by increasing competence of our designs and crucially, training of the installing workforce and their inspecting site staff. The CPA working group project may suggest that other trades and industry disciplines will also need to have a means of inspecting work and demonstrate competence throughout the design procurement and installation process.
Until the twelve working groups complete their work the implementation of the Hackitt recommendations will remain unclear. In the meantime, this blog, as well as our normal weekly newsletter updates, will attempt to keep members fully informed of emerging issues from the working groups and how these are being addressed. Members, as always, are welcome to provide feedback to SPRA on this or any other issue.
Best wishes and feedback appreciated.