Building regulations - proposed review of fire safety topics: consultation

Ministerial foreword

Following the tragic fire at Cameron House hotel in December 2017 and the subsequent fatal accident inquiry (FAI) published in January 2023, the Scottish Government has undertaken a review of the FAI outcomes through the Ministerial working group on building and fire safety. The review has addressed Scotland's building and fire safety regulatory frameworks.

The review involved two stages. Firstly, a short life working group to review the FAI recommendations (which reported in October 2023). Secondly the ongoing fire safety expert panel has been created to look at the long-term commitments outlined within the Cameron House hotel short life working group (SLWG) report and to review other aspects of Scottish building standards and fire safety guidance.

Recommendations (short term) from the SLWG review have already been implemented. This included amending guidance in the technical handbooks to promote the use of automatic fire suppression systems for historic building conversions to hotels. We also introduced a requirement for local authorities to notify the Scottish Government where future conversions of historic buildings are to be used as hotel accommodation. Workshops were undertaken for industry, promoting the dangers of historic construction techniques, materials and fire spread in hidden voids.

This ongoing review for the longer-term recommendations has seen a panel of experts consider mandating automatic fire suppression systems where historic buildings are being converted into hotels. The panel has considered the special risks which existing hotels and similar premises may pose through the presence of hidden voids, historic construction techniques, varying standards of workmanship, age, and variance from current standards/guidance and other building fire safety issues. We believe the proposed actions set out by the review panel, offer the opportunity to ensure that future buildings in Scotland are even safer for the people of Scotland who will live in, and use them each day.

We are grateful to the many panel members who gave their time and expert knowledge on how best to further improve fire safety of traditional buildings used for hotel accommodation and wider buildings.

This consultation consolidates the recommendations made by the expert panel and seeks views on proposed changes to building regulations and supporting guidance contained in Section 2: fire of the Technical Handbooks.

We hope you will take this opportunity to give us your thoughts.

Paul McLennan MSP - Minister for Housing

Siobhian Brown MSP - Minister for Victims and Community Safety