Building safety chief reflects on Grenfell failures

Andy Roe, chairman of the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), has described the Grenfell Tower fire as a "total system failure", stating that every institution involved failed on that night in June 2017. The BSR is the body responsible for overseeing the design and safety of tower blocks measuring 18 metres or above. Nearly 70% of the nation's high-rise buildings are located in London.

Lessons from Tragedy

Both Mr Roe and Charlie Pugsley, acting chief executive of the BSR, were present at the Grenfell fire. Mr Roe, a former London Fire Brigade commissioner, said their shared experience of the tragedy drives them in their current roles. He told BBC London that they witnessed "the loss of an unbelievable amount of lives" and the "disrespect and destruction of a community that should have been listened to." He emphasised that "everyone failed" including private and public institutions, manufacturers, and the London Fire Brigade itself, citing a lack of preparation and foresight. Mr Roe stated he is not interested in "heroes and villains" but in understanding the systemic breakdown.

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Remediation and Future Enforcement

The BSR oversees the design submissions for new buildings and for those undergoing remediation. Currently, 192 high-rise blocks in London are in the process of being remediated, a figure significantly higher than the 149 in the rest of the country combined. The BSR is working to speed up this remediation process and improve collaboration with the construction industry. However, Mr Roe warned that "bad actors" exist and that the BSR plans to implement a "more vigorous enforcement policy" next year. He conveyed a clear message: "We will come for you if you're a bad actor."

Charlie Pugsley echoed Mr Roe's sentiments, highlighting his own experiences at Grenfell and in subsequent investigations. He stressed the importance of never losing sight of the people affected by building safety issues, stating that if regulators do, "we've missed the point in terms of just making buildings safer."

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