Online event | New Thinking, Responsible Actions

This event run is by the Construction Professionals' Council Of Northern Ireland (CPCNI) and provides a useful platform to hear from the experts on how construction professionals can practically rise to the challenge and the need to change to address the necessary improvements in industry competence and culture regarding fire safety.

The full title is New Thinking, Responsible Actions – Grenfell, Construction Professionals Respond 

The event will take place across 4 May (11.30-13.00) and 11 May (11.30-13.00)

Speakers include Dame Judith Hackitt DBE, Graham Watts OBE, Professor John Cole CBE and Paul Hyett.

Tickets are £50 / free for full time students.

More information and tickets are available here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/new-thinking-responsible-actions-tickets-148917513291

Context:

Following the Grenfell Fire in June 2017, the government set up an independent review of the building regulations and fire safety led by Dame Judith Hackett with the final report published  in May 2018 titled 'Building a Safer Future: Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety'. In this report there were more than 50 recommendations for government as to how to deliver a  more robust regulatory system. The recommendations also identified industry competency as a key issue and the need to improve skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviour across the functions of designing, constructing, and managing buildings at all levels. 

The Construction Industry Council responded to this competency challenge and Graham Watts CIC Chief Executive led a major project to address  competency deficiency and plans for improvement and a report was published titled 'Setting the Bar - a new competence regime for building a safer future.'

Government has also responded in many ways including the proposed Building Safety Act and the  Building Safety Regulator. This new regulatory function is being established with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and will be responsible for implementing a more stringent regulatory regime for buildings in scope; overseeing the safety and performance of all buildings and oversight of the competence and organisational capability of all including professionals working on all buildings .  

In parallel the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) appointed the British Standards Institution (BSI) to develop a new competency framework for the Built Environment and this is planned to be published early summer titled 'Built Environment – Core criteria for building safety in competence frameworks – Code of practice'. There are also three BSI PAS Documents being developed for Principal Designer, Principal Contractor and Building Safety Manager that will align with this code of practice.

The aforementioned activities demonstrate the significant work and effort that has been ongoing in response to the Grenfell Fire and this event provides a useful platform to hear from the experts on how  construction professionals can practically rise to the challenge and the need to change to address the necessary improvements in industry competence and culture.