Strengthening fire safety for high rise domestic buildings: consultation

Background Information

The Scottish Government established the Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower in June 2017. This set up the Review of the Fire Safety Regime in Scotland for High Rise Domestic Buildings (the Review) to focus on the fire safety regime and regulatory framework. The Review report can be found at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-fire-safety-regime-final-review/.

The Review identified that there are no major gaps in Scottish legislation. It did highlight some areas where improvements could be made to support and clarify existing guidance and legislation and made the following six Recommendations. These are short term actions to be taken to improve fire safety. Consideration of longer term solutions will continue as these short term actions are implemented and monitored:

Review of the Fire Safety Regime in Scotland for High Rise Domestic Buildings Recommendations:

1. Specific Fire Safety Guidance aimed at all residents of high rise domestic buildings.

2. Introduction of Scottish Guidance concerning “Fire Safety in purpose-built block of flats”.

3. Introduction of Scottish Guidance concerning Fire Risk Assessments.

4. A consistent position regarding the storage, removal and enforced prohibition of combustible materials in common areas to be devised and agreed by all relevant stakeholders.

5. A Fire Safety campaign relative to common areas.

6. Introduction of Scottish guidance concerning “Fire Safety in specialised housing”.

In this consultation we are seeking views on the proposed actions to implement Recommendations 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. A Short Life Working Group has also been established for Recommendation 4, a consistent approach to dealing with combustibles in common areas. There is separate work on Recommendation 6 to produce guidance concerning Fire Safety in Specialised Housing.

How do I get involved?

To give us your views, please click here (‘Begin Consultation’ Link will be in on-line version). This consultation closes 17 July 2019. You can submit a response any time before the closing date.

We would like to hear experiences and views, both positive and negative, so that we can ensure that the actions we take are as effective as possible.

Am I restricted to answering the questions in the consultation?

No, there are free text boxes in the consultation document which allow you to tell us anything that you believe is important.

What is meant by “Stay put” and Common Areas

Stay Put

The “Stay Put” strategy is normally used in high rise domestic buildings. It means when a fire occurs inside a flat, the occupants of that flat need to escape. People can safely remain in other flats unless directly affected by heat and smoke or directed to leave by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. This does not prevent occupiers, who are aware of a fire in the building but not affected directly by it, from deciding to evacuate.

Common Areas

Those parts of a high rise domestic building generally used by occupants of more than one flat for entry and exit.