The connotations surrounding the term building safety can be tricky. In a post-Grenfell world, there is sadness and caution but since the introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022, which came into existence as a direct response to the tragedy, it is also marred with uncertainty for social landlords.

The act now holds High Risk Building (HRB) owners responsible for the safety of their buildings, with an Accountable Person maintaining its safety throughout its life. A stringent three-stage gateway process was also introduced, and local authorities and housing associations are expected to always be competent and compliant with an Act which holds a magnitude of importance for their resident's safety.

Additional uncertainties then arise when councils are continuously under scrutiny and pressure to decarbonise their housing stock, and the plethora of work required to bring buildings up to safe and sustainable standards can feel overwhelming.

But this just presents a unique window of opportunity to address two issues simultaneously.

We firmly believe bringing buildings up to the best safety standards should only be the start of your high-rise revolution.

If you are committed to deploying the best building safety standards then doing so in conjunction with decarbonisation measures makes the most practical, financial and long-term sense. This ensures your properties and tenants are only subject to inconvenience once and there is funding available to support these efforts which will keep costs down.

We have mapped out our own three stage gateway at Equans to unlocking warmer, safer, more affordable and sustainable homes.

Compliance

In response to the Building Safety Act, Equans partnered with Build UK members to develop an Awareness Course for built environment professionals. We saw a unique opportunity to develop something that was bigger than just keeping ‘in-house' and centred on sharing best practices across the industry.

This was officially launched through the CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building) in November 2023 and offers a BSA Awareness eLearning course via the CIOB Academy.

The 90-minute online course is structured around four key areas, including an introduction to the Building Safety Act 2022, Building Safety Act legislation, roles and scope, and the ‘golden thread'.

From replacing fire doors and installing sprinklers, to a full tower block transformation, our accredited expert teams will create a bespoke safety solution that is not only fully compliant with the Building Safety Act but will integrate with your wider asset management and retrofit plans.

Funding

Many of the country's high-rise buildings are inefficient and need deep retrofit measures to support the UK's net zero agenda.

Schemes like the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund exist to support these efforts and companies like Equans can develop net zero roadmaps, pulling together and submitting relevant funding applications, so plans can progress for improving building safety, while making homes warmer and more affordable.

Decarbonisation

Once the building safety plans are finalised and the sustainability funding is received, you can then drive forward with not only implementing vital building safety work but incorporating key retrofit measures, such as air source heat pumps, solar PV installation, new windows and doors or loft and cavity wall insulation, which will support with your wider decarbonisation and net zero plans.

By tackling two of the greatest challenges head on and committing to developing competence and compliance in building safety, local authorities and housing associations can lead by example. Tenants will not only feel safer and more comfortable in their own homes, but they will be more affordable to heat, combatting fuel poverty and all the while driving down carbon emissions.

 

Paul Young is head of operational excellence at Equans UK & Ireland

 

COMMENT

Neil Cox, Interim Head of Commercial – Asset Management at Birmingham City Council

Approximately 100 colleagues at Birmingham City Council undertook Equans' CIOB course and were really pleased with the how the course helped to develop their knowledge and understanding of the Building Safety Act.

Key to this was the course providing increased awareness as to how the Building Safety Act would influence and change activities the council carries out to keep its residents well informed and safe in their home.

Thank you to Equans and the CIOB for their collaboration and relentless pursuit of safety excellence across the Maintenance and Construction sectors.

For further information on the Building Safety Act and Equans CIOB bespoke course, visit https://www.ciobacademy.org/product/building-safety-act-awareness/