Uniting to Improve Fire Safety Standards

he Fire Safety Building Regulations Group (FSBRG) formed by Assent Associate Paul le Mare, hopes to unite the industry and open lines of communication to improve Fire Safety Standards. Here he speaks with BSEE about their ambitions for change.

An increase in demand for housing throughout the last decade, during which there has also been economic uncertainty, is causing planning departments to shrink, budgets to tighten and skill shortages in almost every trade across the sector. Compounding this is also a materials shortage due to Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. These pressures have become a melting pot, causing cost and delivery times to be prioritised over safety and performance.

A higher level of fire safety understanding is needed across the sector. Building Control holds a large share of the responsibility, yet there needs to be a collective effort, including open lines of communication with the government and fire services, to ensure safety measures are considered at every stage of a project.

In 2020, Paul LeMare, Associate at Assent Building Control, founded the Fire Safety Regulations Group with a mission to unify the Building Control profession and raise standards in the built environment. The group unites voices to reach Government and regulating bodies. He believes in order to improve fire safety and never repeat the mistakes of the past, clear communication across the sector is critical.

You can read a much more detailed version on the BSEE Online Magazine. If you’d like to discuss how Assent can support your building projects in 2021, please get in touch.