BESA says Grenfell report “should add greater urgency to reforms”

The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has become the latest industry voice to welcome the final report from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, saying that it should add greater urgency to promised reforms of the construction industry and related engineering disciplines

The association has produced a summary of the key recommendations from the report for the building engineering sector.

CEO David Frise said:

The report reminds us that the industry’s operating model had evolved to a point where cutting cost was pursued at the expense of building safety and performance. We must build on the progress made since the tragedy, evolving into an industry that can clearly demonstrate its competence and compliance in delivering a built environment that is safe and sustainable.

BESA added that it had already suspended companies from membership who failed to meet their technical and professional obligations under the Act and ‘would not hesitate to do so again.’

It said it particularly noted the comments of inquiry panel member Thouria Istephan, who called for a greater commitment to the development of professional skills.

Thouria said:

If we are not professionally curious, we will not become technically competent. If you work in the construction industry and do not feel the weight of the responsibility you have for keeping people safe, you are in the wrong job.

BESA said the inquiry report shone a light on the systemic failings that led to the tragedy and vowed to work closely with the government and other industry bodies to bring about the necessary culture change that would ensure similar disasters could not occur in the future.

The association added that the report should serve as a further reminder of the serious and wide-reaching impact of the disaster. It also paid tribute to those who lost their lives and said it was important to recognise the continued impact on residents and the immediate community.

BESA also noted that while continued legislative change and regulatory reform is clearly required, it was anxious that there should be no loss in momentum on progress that is already being made under the Building Safety Act, specifically around the need for everyone involved in construction to provide evidence of their competence and compliance.

BESA has created a hub dedicated to the Building Safety Act.