As part of a series of announcements, Secretary of State for Housing Michael Gove this week announced that a tighter threshold of 18 metres for ‘high-risk’ buildings for mandatory construction of a second staircase would be introduced.
Based on a new focus on fire safety requirements post-Grenfell, and consultation with the RIBA, Chartered Institute of Building, National Fire Chiefs Council and other bodies, the original proposed threshold of 30 metres for schemes requiring a second staircase has been tightened to 18 metres. The 30 metres threshold was adopted in London and led to the shelving of several planned new housing schemes.
Gove said the new threshold of 18 metres offered clarity to developer, but that for projects already underway, “transitional arrangements” would apply.
Eddie Tuttle, director of policy, external affairs and research at CIOB, said: “We have always believed the proposal to mandate secondary staircases for buildings over 18 metres tall to be the best solution as it provides a more comprehensive strategy in ensuring all high-risk buildings have more than one means of a safe entrance and exit.”
RIBA President Simon Allford said: “It is hugely positive and reassuring to see the Government listening to the united call of experts on fire safety, bringing greater coherence and certainty for industry.