黑洞社区

The National Fire Chiefs Council has today voiced concerns about the safety of modern methods of construction. 

黑洞社区s are being 鈥渄esigned, approved and built despite a lack of understanding about their performance鈥� the umbrella-body said in a statement. Representatives of modular builders hit back by saying the sector made 鈥渘o compromise on safety鈥�.

An NFCC position statement on MMC said the body was particularly concerned about 3D modular or volumetric construction and engineered mass timber products such as CLT being used for high-rise buildings, buildings housing vulnerable people, or those where a 鈥榮tay put鈥� policy is in operation.

A stay put policy is where residents are advised to stay in a building when there is a fire while firefighters tackle the blaze. 

The NFCC called on the government to tighten rules for testing MMC. 

Gavin Tomlinson, NFCC鈥檚 protection and business safety scrutiny committee chair, said: 鈥淣FCC is concerned that MMC buildings are being designed, approved and built despite a lack of understanding about their performance. 

鈥淕iven the current regulatory system has already been described and accepted by government as 鈥榥ot fit for purpose鈥� even for traditional construction techniques, this adds additional uncertainty in the built environment.鈥�

Mark Hardingham, chair of the NFCC, added: 鈥淚t is vitally important to make sure that products and technologies are safe for use, including their likely performance in a fire, before they are used in the built environment. 

>>See also: Why are we struggling to make modular work?

>>See also: The 黑洞社区 Safety Bill is now law 鈥� here鈥檚 what you need to know

鈥淣ot only is this important for safety but it also helps to protect leaseholders from unnecessary costs that can arise when buildings need remediation, or interim measures, including things like waking watches.鈥�

The NFCC said it 鈥渨elcomed current reform of building safety鈥� but added 鈥渟ignificant cultural change in the system must take place to improve competency levels across the sector and ensure that MMC is promoted and used in a manner which provides safe buildings for all鈥�. The 黑洞社区 Safety Act, a reponse to the fatal high-rise fire at Grenfell Tower in 2017, came into force in April. 

A spokesperson for trade body Make UK Modular said: 鈥淭here is no compromise on fire safety and indeed our standards and testing routinely go above and beyond what is required.鈥�

The added it was keen to meet with the NFCC at the earliest opportunity 鈥漷o discuss their concerns and reassure them on the issues they have raised鈥�.

Home warranty and insurance provider NHBC declined to comment.