Commencement of section 156 of the UK Building Safety Act 2022 in Wales.
This consultation is about changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
In response to the Grenfell Tower fire our Safer buildings in Wales White Paper set out proposals for a comprehensive reform of legislation to improve the safety in all multi-occupied residential buildings in Wales (those containing 2 or more sets of domestic dwellings), from design and construction, through to occupation and how they are maintained. The proposals set out to address problems found by the Hackitt review, the Grenfell Tower Inquiries and our own Building Safety Expert Group.
Overall, there was general support for our White Paper proposals. We recognised in our response to the consultation, however, that the scope of our proposed new building safety regime was extensive and achieving some of the reforms would take time. Some of the proposals, particularly those relating to the occupation phase, would need primary legislation to be taken through the Senedd, including our proposals to improve fire safety in these buildings.
The changes we outline in this consultation, however, will also apply to all non-domestic premises to which the FSO applies too, from workplace premises and public buildings to guest houses, mobile homes (where they are rented out as holiday accommodation) and short-term temporary rentals via services like AirBnB.
The Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry’s Phase 1 report was published in October 2019. This found compelling evidence that the rapid propagation of the fire at Grenfell Tower was due largely to defects in the design and installation of the windows and external cladding on the tower. This was compounded by the failure of internal fire doors and other structures to resist the spread of fire. The Inquiry called for changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (‘the FSO’), to ensure these elements of high-rise blocks of flats, are within the regulatory regime.
The Welsh Government is consulting on timings for commencing section 156 of the UK Building Safety Act 2022, in Wales and is seeking your views.
The changes will affect all premises to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies and will impose additional duties on those responsible for fire safety in these buildings.
The consultation is now open and will close on 19 May 2023.
For further information please select the following link Commencement of section 156 of the UK Building Safety Act 2022 in Wales | GOV.WALES