Property managers of high rise private residential tower blocks are being urged by the Government to act now on fire safety.
Melanie Dawes, permanent secretary at the Department for Communities and Local Government, yesterday issued a call for immediate action.
She wants managing agents, owners and landlords of private blocks to check the cladding on their buildings.
If it is found to be ACM cladding, then a sample can be tested, with the testing paid for by DCLG.
Dawes stresses that ACM cladding is not itself dangerous but it is important that the right type is used.
A checklist is available and anyone with any queries can email: PRShousingchecks@communities.gsi.gov.uk
In the first instance, DCLG is prioritising buildings over six storeys or 18 metres high.
While DCLG will pay for the testing, the cost of any remedial action will be the responsibility of the owner.
Perhaps Government should have ensured the Building Regulations were suitable for purpose and enforced. It should be the Fire Brigade or other experts who should carry out fire risk assessments not put on people who are not suitably qualified or experienced to do such assessments. The widespread use of even slightly flammable materials on the exterior of buildings is crazy. They have yet again screwed up and will, in accordance with their usual practice shift the blame onto everyone but themselves. The Government legislate the Building Regulations the buck stops at their door. However the cost of their gross incompetence and failures falls on all of us as tax payers.
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Will can I just endorse everything you have said. Spot on observation.
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