黑洞社区

A new role to make sure that work from planning to completion has been properly undertaken on new buildings could be a direct consequence of the Hackitt report, according to Arcadis partner Simon Rawlinson.

In her review of building regulations and fire safety, published last month following last year鈥檚 Grenfell Tower fire, Dame Judith Hackitt recommended setting up a new Joint Competent Authority (JCA) to be made up of Local Authority 黑洞社区 Control, fire and rescue authorities and the Health and Safety Executive.

The JCA would be responsible for the sign-off of high-risk residential buildings at three different stages, enforcing building standards and sanctioning rule-breakers.

鈥淚f companies can take measures to protect people while working, they can do the same to ensure a building is built to be safe鈥�

Simon Rawlinson, Arcadis

Rawlinson said the Hackitt report has crystallised the degree to which risk in the construction industry is transferred from designer to contractor, contractor to specialist subcontractors and down through to labour on the site.

鈥淕renfell cruelly exposed both the transfer and ownership of risk,鈥� said Rawlinson. 鈥淚n the same way as an MOT gives an assurance that a car is in safe working order, people want assurance that a building has been properly overseen during its construction.鈥�

Rawlinson, who said there could be a rise in the number of 鈥渞eassurance roles鈥� offering clearer guidance on obligations throughout the construction process, said the construction industry should follow others such as nuclear and oil and gas, where safety is a top priority.

He added: 鈥淚f companies can take measures to protect people while working, they can do the same to ensure a building is built to be safe.

鈥淪afety [for a building] should be the number one priority. Where you鈥檒l have a nuanced conversation is whether you have 鈥榚nough鈥� oversight or what is deemed to be 鈥榯oo much鈥�.鈥�

Interest in roles such as clerk of works has grown since last June鈥檚 Grenfell fire. Tony Mobbs, managing director of Barnsley-based clerk of works and site inspection specialist Hickton, said the firm has been fielding a growing number of inquiries at tender stage.

He added that an increasing number of private developers are asking the firm to run the rule over the safety of existing buildings.

Hickton has enlisted the help of sister firm, approved inspectors business BRCS, to cope with the demand and Mobbs added: 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at the materials used. Developers are double checking what鈥檚 there.鈥�

And Rachel Morris, chief executive of the Institute of Clerks of Works, which is drawing up its response to the Hackitt report, said more developers should employ clerks of works. 鈥淐lerks of works are there to look after the interest of the client, to ensure that construction is done properly and standards are adhered to,鈥� she added.