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Building Standards Dissemination Event • 26 September 2019 Stephen Garvin Head of Building Standards Division
Building Standards Dissemination Event
• 26 September 2019
Stephen Garvin
Head of Building Standards Division
Programme
12.30 – Arrival, Registration and Tea/Coffee13.00 – Introduction – Stephen Garvin13.15 – Changing Places Toilets – Stephen Garvin13.30 – Procedural Handbook Updates – Ken Craig14.00 – Fire Safety Update – Benny Rooney15.00 – Building Standards Futures Board – Stephen Garvin15.15 – Discussion15:30 – Close
Grenfell Tower Fire, 14 June 2017
Inquiry (started 2018)Chairman: Sir Martin Moore‐BickPhase 1 focussed on the factual narrative of the events of the night of 14 June 2017Phase 2 the design and execution of the building project
Failure of compliance with building regulationsFailure of quality, supervision and training
Edinburgh Schools Report, February 2017
Set up to oversee a review of building and fire safety regulatory frameworks, and any other relevant matters, in order to help ensure that people are safe in Scotland's buildings, and make any recommendations for improvement
….. To make buildings even safer ……………………
Focus on higher risk, higher rise, more complex …….
Ministerial Working Group
Ministerial Working Group
Review PanelsCompliance and EnforcementChaired by Professor John Cole
Fire Safety StandardsChaired by Dr Paul Stollard
Fire Safety Regime
Other workHigh rise housing inventoryExternal wall insulationLPS buildings
Consultations – 2018 and 2019
Compliance and Enforcement
Professor Cole (2018):“The current system in Scotland has much to commend it, in particular the pre‐emptive aspect of obtaining a building warrant prior to starting on site.“
“Despite the recognised benefits of the current system in Scotland, recent evidence has indicated that there are issues that need to be addressed, particularly in relation to how effectively the system is actually implemented. ……... The focus of this reshaping is to improve aspects of the current system and its implementation, not to fundamentally change the system.”
“There is a need for a culture change within the Building Standards system, which requires both verifiers and applicants to fully understand and deliver on their responsibilities.”
Fire Safety Standards
Dr Stollard (2018):
“The tragic fire in the Grenfell Tower on the 14 June 2017 which led to the deaths of 72 people was the worst fire in the United Kingdom since, at least, the Second World War. In response the Scottish Government began an immediate review not only of the high rise buildings in Scotland, but also of the standards and regulations covering their construction, management and occupation.”
Progress and work to do
Fire Safety• Changes from 1 October 2019: focus on high rise and high risk
• Further changes in 2021 on automatic fire suppression systems
Compliance and Enforcement• Changes to procedural guidance• Focus on issues such as wall ties and fire stopping
Longer term programme of work to address recommendations under the Building Standards Futures BoardFind out more later in the programme
Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety (England), Dame Judith Hackitt
UK Government To assess current building and fire safety regulations and compliance and enforcement issues (England)Reported in May 2018MHCLG Implementation Plan, published December 2018Consultation on proposals closed 31 July 2019
Ones to watch
EU Exit: Deal or No Deal:• If no deal then move to UK regulations: guidance now availableFuture trade deals and products entering UK market
Hackitt Report Driven, UK wide:• Construction Products – new regime and regulator• Licensed Contractors – new regime and schemes
Construction Quality Assurance Initiative:• Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust• Improve quality and compliance• Collaborative
Today’s programme
• Stephen Garvin• Changing Places Toilets
• Ken Craig• Procedural handbook changes
• Benny Rooney• Fire safety standards
Background
• Currently there are 1,000,000 disabled people in the Scotland
• For approximately 25,000 of these people, standard accessible toilets do not meet their needs
• CPTs have been recognised as a good practice facility in key building types within BS 8300 since 2009
• The Technical Handbooks have had a specification for CPTs since 2013. These have always been voluntary provision –until now
What are Changing Places Toilets
• CPTs are large sanitary facilities, 3 metres x 4 metres with equipment to aid changing an adult
• Now required in certain large new buildings as defined, in new clause 3.12.13, within the Non domestic Technical Handbook
• The updated Technical Handbooks details what is expected within a CPT
Why this change is important?
• Needed to drive up provision throughout Scotland
• Lack of provision can lead to social isolation due to the inability to plan days out which the majority of us take for granted
• Lack of provision can lead to families and carers having to change people on unhygienic toilet floors
• We Consulted from 18th February to 13th May
• We had over 1100 responses to the consultation
• 99 percent of respondents agreed with the proposal to add CPTs as a requirement
Consultation and Support for change
PROCEDURAL GUIDANCE AND
• Building Standards Procedural Handbook• Verif ication during Construction Guidance• Temporary Occupation or Use Form• Amendment to warrant form
FORM CHANGES
From 1 October 2019
Context and Background
Strengthening current guidance to improve compliance and enforcement.• The Compliance and Enforcement Review Panel, chaired by
Professor John Cole• Led to a detailed public consultation on Building Standards
Compliance and Fire Safety in Summer in 2018.• Analysis of responses led to two categories: Immediate action Medium/Long term action
Compliance and Enforcement Review Panel
Responses identified the following actions:• Strengthen existing guidance• Review roles and responsibilities of the relevant person and verifier
• Review and update guidance on enforcement• Review and amend guidance for site inspections for large complex buildings
• Review and amend the temporary occupation or use form• Review and amend the amendment of warrant form
How we developed the changes
• Partnership working between BSD and Local Authority Building Standards Scotland (LABSS) was achieved through a short‐life review panel.
• Meetings took place in March, April and May 2019 to discuss, develop and approve the changes to guidance and forms.
• The changes are reflected in a new version of the Building Standards Procedural Handbook and the LABSS guidance to Support the Application of Reasonable Enquiry, for Domestic and Non Domestic Buildings.
A new Procedural Handbook
The handbook now meets accessibility standards by:• Introducing colour‐coded chapters to help with navigation;
• Using consistent use of colour in diagrams and flow‐charts;
• Adding contemporary images showing diversity in the workplace;
• Using double‐column format and correct font size;
• Reflect format contained in Customer Journey
A new Procedural Handbook
BSD has taken the opportunity to refresh the Procedural Handbook.
• linking chapters from the contents page; and • using interactive PDF format and HTML which is mobile friendly and optimised for on‐screen viewing.
Revised Guidance & Form Changes
1. Roles and responsibilities from pre-application to completion:
New section added covering use of pre-warrant application meetings and Customer Agreements to encourage early discussions and collaborative working.
Revised Guidance & Form Changes
2. Clarify roles under Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015:
The Health and Safety chapter has been updated with a table clarifying roles under CDM and building standards legislation.
Revised Guidance & Form Changes
3. Review guidance on enforcement
• Agreement that existing guidance is appropriate.
• Could be reviewed in future, if necessary.
Revised Guidance & Form Changes
4. Revised site inspection guidance in Procedural Handbook & LABSS Reasonable Inquiry handbooks
• Focus on safety critical elements
• Highlighting the importance of setting out key construction stages requiring inspection
Revised Guidance & Form Changes
5. Temporary Occupation or Use Form
Declaration has been added, similar to completion certificate submission:This declaration confirms that in the case of work for the construction of a building, the building as constructed complies with the building regulations; that in the case of the provision of services, fittings or equipment in or in connection with a building that the services, fittings or equipment provided comply with building regulations; and in the case of conversion of a building that the building as converted complies with building regulations.
Revised Guidance & Form Changes
5. Temporary Occupation or Use Form
Declaration has been added, similar to completion certificate submission:This application does not permit the occupation or use of a building following construction or conversion. It is an offence to occupy or use such a building until the verifier permits temporary occupation or use of the building, during the period specified.
Should a completion certificate not be accepted by a verifier within the specified period, an application should be made for [a] further period[s] of temporary occupation or use.
Revised Guidance & Form Changes
6. Application for amendment of building warrant form
• Clarification for staged warrant applications• Additional text added in eDevelopment portal & note
on application form:
Revised Guidance & Form Changes
6. Application for amendment of building warrant form
• Clarification for staged warrant applications• Additional text added in eDevelopment portal & note
on application form:
Additional Information
Possible revisions to Caravan Sites Act 1968
Awaiting Parliamentary Approval 15th November:
Possible Revised Dimensions:
Length: Changed from 18.288m, to 20 metres(exclusive of drawbar) Width: Changed from 6.096m, to 6.8 metres Height: Changed from 3.028m, to 3.05m.
Any questions?
Technical Handbooks 2019 Changes
Section 2 : Fire
Benny RooneyTechnical Author Section 2 Fire
Building Standards Division, Scottish Government
Introduction
• Building (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2019
• Changes to guidance within both the Domestic and Non-Domestic Technical Handbooks
• Coming into force as of 1 October 2019
Compliance and Fire Safety Consultation
• High Level Questions
• 246 people attended 4 “World Café” Events
• Closed September 2018, 222 responses
• Independent Analysis by Pye Tait
2.0 Introduction – Scottish Fire Statistics
• Approximately 5000 accidental dwellings fires / year
• 40 deaths and 900 injuries• Cooking appliances (62%)• Electrical supply/lighting (14%)• Combustibles too close to candles or
other heat sources (9%)• Careless disposal of cigarettes / matches
and other domestic appliances (15%)
2.0 Introduction - Alternative Approaches
• Fire engineered solutions
• Engineered timber
2.0 Introduction – Relevant Legislation
• HMO’s
• Small care homes (domestic setting)
2.0 Introduction – Annex Reaction to fire
• Reference to British Standards for reaction to fire tests removed
2.1 Compartmentation and 2.2 Separation
• Activation of fire and smoke dampers to ventilation ductwork clarified
2.1 Compartmentation and 2.2 Separation
• Guidance clarified on junctions between compartment/separating walls and floors and external walls
2.4 Cavities
Standard 2.4Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that in the event of an outbreak of fire within the building, the unseen spread of fire and smoke within concealed spaces cavities in its structure and fabric is inhibited.
2.4 Cavities
• Open state intumescent cavity barriers may be used to inhibit fire and smoke spread in an external wall (Clause 2.4.1)
2.6 Spread to neighbouring buildings
Combustibility of external wall clarified where not more than 1m to boundary (Clause 2.6.5)
2.7 Spread on external walls
• Euro Class A1 / A2 cladding and cavity insulation reduced from 18m to 11m height
• A1/A2 – Hospitals, Entertainment / Assembly buildings and Residential care buildings (any height) -Exemptions for small buildings
11m
18m
2.7 Spread on external walls
Specified attachments Green Walls and Roofs
External wall cladding
• External wall cladding – composite panels, timber panels, spandrel panels and infill panels added as examples
Exemptions to A1 / A2
Exemptions include: cavity trays, door frames and doors, electrical installations, insulation and water proofing below ground level, intumescent and fire stopping materials, membranes, seals, gaskets, fixings, sealants and backer rods, thermal break materials, window frames and glass
Alternative - BS 8414 / BR 135 and BS 9414
Means of escape from high rise domestic buildings
Evacuation systems for Fire and Rescue Service
High rise domestic buildings > 18m
Multiple escape stair in high rise domestic building
Typical BS 8629 control panel
Storey identification signs and dwelling indicator signs
Other Work - Housing (Scotland) Act 1987
Consultation on Fire and Smoke Alarms:Undertaken September – December 2017
Introduction of new Tolerable Standard in February 2021 - all dwellings to be fitted with:
• Smoke and heat alarms• Carbon monoxide detectors
Further details at: https://consult.gov.scot/housing-regeneration-and-welfare/fire-and-smoke-alarms-in-scottish-homes/
Other work - Building Inventory
• Research undertaken by Capita in 2018 to determine number and fire safety features (e.g. cladding sprinklers, fire doors etc)
• 673 high rise housing blocks above 18 m in Scotland
• Majority built in 1960s/70s
• Approximately 5 per year average from 1980’s
Future - Fire Safety Regime for existing high rise residential
4. Strategy on storage, removal and enforced prohibition of combustible materials in common areas
5. A fire safety campaign for common areas
6. Fire safety in specialised housing (Consultation closes 22 October)
1. Fire safety guidance for residents of high rise domestic buildings
2. Fire Safety in purpose-built block of flats
3. Fire Risk Assessments
Guidance
https://www.gov.scot/publications/strengthening‐fire‐safety‐high‐rise‐domestic‐buildings/https://consult.gov.scot/fire‐and‐rescue/fire‐safety‐guidance‐specialised‐housing/
Future - Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS)
David Stewart MSP
• Draft Bill, 16 Jan 2018 • Final Proposal - AFSS to all New-
Build Social Housing, 22 May 2018
• Scottish Government agreed to legislate in June 2018 before end of Parliamentary session
Future - Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS)
• All new social housing• All new flats• Certain new HMOs• Amendment to standard
2.15 in 2020• Coming into force in 2021
Summary
• Reference to British Standards for reaction to fire removed
• Standard 2.4 Cavities amended• External wall cladding and insulation exposed in cavity
to be A1 or A2, floor > 11m• A1 or A2 external wall cladding to assembly &
entertainment buildings, hospitals and residential care buildings other than small buildings < 11m
• BS 8414 (and BR 135) may be used as alternative
Summary
• Two escape stairs in high rise flats, floor > 18m• Evacuation alert system for use by the fire and
rescue service• Storey identification signs and dwelling indicator
signs• Smoke and heat alarms (2021)• Automatic fire suppression systems (2021)
Thank you for listening, any questions?
#BuildingSafety365#BuildingSafetyMonthCampaign
Follow Building Standards at @ScotGovBldgStds
Building Standards: Futures Board
• 24 September 2019
Stephen Garvin
Head of Building Standards Division
Building Standards Futures Board
Chaired by Aubrey Fawcett, CE Inverclyde Council and SOLACEMembership:LABBS, RIAS, HfS, CS, CSIC, RICS, COSLA, FMB, CIOB, SFT, Scheme Providers,
Futures Board Work Streams
• A new compliance approach: the Compliance Plan• Verifier Workforce: Strategy and Action Plan• Digital Transformation• Certification Strategy• Technical Strategy• Verification Standards• Delivery model
Futures Board Work Streams
All are important, but a future that is focussed around digital systems, tools, models and data is central to the Futures Board thinking
Strategy:CollaborativeSharingFuture workforce(s)
Delivery:Automation of the routineQuickExpertise focussed on high risk and complex elementsOpen data and toolsPlatforms that allow data sharing amongst different parties
Summary
Changes to fire safety and compliance and enforcement (procedural guidance) this year Longer term development of the building standards framework and relevant strategies to take embed a better culture, approach and resultDigital transformation is key to achieving efficiency and driving up complianceRange of safety and energy related policy and actions will come into effect over the next years
