Dr Jonathan Evans CEng FIMechE

@1962ndc999 As for culture change? The ‘leopard can’t change its spots’ proverb has more scientific basis than most imagine. We are strongly influenced by hard-wiring. Relying on people to change their behaviour is like waiting for their eyes to change colour ... sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/…

@AccladinSane @GrenfellUnited Rooted in human nature I’m afraid & so can be found in all industries, most of which aren’t safety-critical. We should act accordingly & not rely on people changing their behaviour. PIR has always been known as “the stuff that produces cyanide when it burns”.

“The #Grenfell Tower Inquiry found that every single death at Grenfell was avoidable. And this report from St Gobain and Celotex demonstrates just that. They knew their product was dangerous and a threat to human life.” insidehousing.co.uk/news/insulatio…

@Ecapener You must have the black on ‘subscribe and save’. Amazing work and patience to combine the detail and realism on such scale 👌

@Jonatha135113 I'm using Caran D'ache luminance pencils (the colour coverage is amazing) and use 4ply rising mount board to draw on.

The glamorous life of 2 under 2. Sneaking in a playroom drawing session while everyone naps. #Pencildrawing #Senna #F1

@martinboydlkp @TheFPA_UK We don’t control or even have say in most international standards. It’s hard enough to change our own. We should align with EN standards & modify as we see fit. Anyway, they’re a bit of a red herring. It’s how the guidance & regulations use the standards that’s more important.

@Jonatha135113 @TheFPA_UK Isn't it asking if we should move away from national standards. My view would be yes and make international standards better. But that's looking at it as an overall system not with reference to any specific test or standard

FPA responds to new government consultation on Approved Document B. Find out more: bit.ly/3XhlEkc #FireSafety #FireProtection #FPA

@martinboydlkp @TheFPA_UK There is no EU harmonised standard for cladding materials by the way.

@martinboydlkp @TheFPA_UK Should certain references to British Standards be removed? Quite probably, but that’s not what the consultation is asking. Everybody’s assuming 13501 lacks similar flaws to Class 0. If Class 0 had been removed, manufacturers might well have just found ways to get B for PE ACM.

@martinboydlkp @TheFPA_UK What do you mean ‘world standards’? Do you think that the European Class B is superior to Class 0? Why not use BS 5658 instead of 476? It subjects to the sample to a higher heat flux than any available European standard.

@Jonatha135113 @TheFPA_UK I would disagree to the extent we work within world standards. The idea of keeping an updated but now accepted as flawed 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 standard in the belief it might be better (but which turned out to allow totally unsuitable lower grade materials) seems flawed as a system design

@martinboydlkp @TheFPA_UK Often it’s not the standards that are flawed but the way they’re applied & this doesn’t solve that. Nat standards contain much valuable knowledge. There’s much of ADB I’m not familiar with, but from an external wall perspective, ditching Nat’l Standards makes no difference now.

@TheFPA_UK Um @Jonatha135113 have I got this wrong or should there be concerns @TheFPA_UK is not entirely supportive of dumping our flawed national standards.

@NuriaCruzCruz @PeteApps It’s what we’re up against. You’d think everybody’d be pulling in the same direction, but no. The more cynically-minded might even say that eliminating the risk of fire is bad for business/funding 🫢 … Consultants Fire and rescue services Insurance co’s Product/chemical mf’rs

@Jonatha135113 @PeteApps What a cheek to say that.

@martinboydlkp @justinmadders Of course. All the time. More down to creative/misleading marketing though. I tried to report 1 to the OPSS - they told to me it was nothing to do with them & that I should speak to Trading Standards. There is no whistleblowing mechanism and competitors aren't taken seriously.

@Jonatha135113 @justinmadders Are some cladding producers still trying to cheat the system.

The Government's self imposed deadline of the end of this year to deal with 4000 laws looked ridiculous when the Bill was introduced, but with no sign of the Bill finishing in the Commons yet never mind the Lords, it now looks impossible theguardian.com/politics/2023/…

@martinboydlkp @justinmadders Maybe. It isn't difficult to get PE ACM to achieve Class B without cheating.

@justinmadders Its ironic that while the government tries to dump EU laws they have decided (are consulting) to finally dump the flawed English rules for cladding materials and adopt the longstanding EU classification system Rules that would have stopped flammable cladding used at Grenfell

Law change sees university accommodation cladding replaced. Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) has received approval to replace cladding on one of its student accommodation blocks. Find out more: bit.ly/3BrBAbs #FireSafety #FireProtection #FPA

@TheFPA_UK A very significant story, with lots to discuss. Student and care accommodation design and management is an overlooked national disgrace. All that effort to put cladding panels at an angle too.