Strengthening fire safety for high rise domestic buildings: consultation

Ministerial Foreword

The fire safety of our buildings is crucial, especially when they are people’s homes.

We can all play a role by our behaviour, in contributing to preventing fires alongside the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and others. This consultation is on proposed actions to strengthen fire safety of high rise domestic buildings, including making it straightforward for people living in, and those responsible for high rise domestic buildings, to keep them safe.

I encourage you to take this opportunity to give us your views and ensure that information and guidance is relevant, accessible and will work in practice.

This is part of the Scottish Government response following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower in June 2017. Our Ministerial Working Group was swiftly established and it has agreed number of actions for improving building and fire safety in Scotland's high rise domestic buildings. You can find more information on the work of the Ministerial Working Group here.

A core part of the work of the Ministerial Working Group was a Review of the Fire Safety Regime in Scotland for High Rise Domestic Buildings. A report was published following this review which can be accessed here.

The Review focused on ensuring the fire safety regime and regulatory framework provides effective, comprehensive protection. It identified that there are no major gaps in Scottish legislation, but made recommendations where improvements could be made to support and clarify existing guidance and legislation. The Ministerial Working Group agreed the Review Recommendations that involve: producing straightforward Fire Safety information for people living in high rise buildings; Fire Safety guidance and Fire Risk Assessments for those responsible for buildings; and improving fire safety in common areas. A further Recommendation is for the introduction of fire safety guidance in specialised housing and we expect to consult on this later in the year.

I encourage you to get involved and welcome your views, thoughts and ideas.

Ash Denham MSP

Minister for Community Safety