Steve Cook

@BuildUK Thanks, and importantly as the 2015 version is now so old, ADB states 'where alternative methods are adopted, the overall level of safety should not be lower than the approved document provides'

Applications for Building Control Approval are assessed against the functional requirements of the Building Regulations, which have not changed, and the previous BS 9991:2015 is still included in the list of relevant standards in Approved Document B.

Following publication of BS 9991:2024, the Building Safety Regulator has confirmed to Build UK that until further notice applications for Building Control Approval for Higher-Risk Buildings can refer to BS 9991:2015 and/or 2024 as the guidance or standard used to support designs.

🌲 PEFC UK seeks a new Non-Executive Chair to lead the organisation. Join us to continue our legacy of sustainability! Apply by May 24 pefc.co.uk/news_articles/… #Leadership #Sustainability #PEFC

@AndyHolden31 @SteveMcfirerisk The loadings for car parks in BS EN 1991-174 NA UK75 & are based on a max vehicle weight of 2,500kg & an average weight of 1,500kg. Currently the ave. weight of 95% of vehicles in UK is 2,000kg & maximum weight of large cars & SUVs is more 3,000kg, hence the update in May 2023

@SteveMcfirerisk I would love to see the calculations that were used during the design process such as the vehicle weight, maximum expected fire temperature and any factored in safety margins. Very surprised to see how quickly the structure failed.

@SteveMcfirerisk For open sided multi-storey carparks up to 30m high (around 10 storeys) only 15 mins structural fire resistance is required by Part B

@davidgcant @GeoffWilkinson The Dutyholders part 2A of the Legislation (a long read), see 11M for PD - Building Regs Duties, statements is under 11Q - not clear speak and not much other guidance yet - so thanks for the article Geoff legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/911/…

@GeoffWilkinson 👍 thanks.

Happy 1st October From today virtually all building projects now require a principal designer & principal contractor. In the case of domestic projects the builder will take on both roles if an architect isn’t appointed. Builders are you ready? architectsjournal.co.uk/news/opinion/t…

@GeoffWilkinson @a_shilliday @ECApaulreeve Thanks Geoff, someone who is an expert in designing out Health & Safety risks may not have a full working knowledge of the Building Regs. In my mind there are now 2 Principal Designer roles and they each have a very different focus.

@a_shilliday @ECApaulreeve Simplistically all that’s been added is the same duty for building regs - the difference is every job needs building control sign off so will actually be someone enforcing this rather than HSE.

@scb_planning It's happening in Amersham with agreement from BT, makes a positive difference to the area

@PlanningShit Great example, this is usually the sign of poor thermal insulation and lightweight blockwork. The mortar joint transfer more heat than the blocks which dries the render surface quicker, less damp and less dust sticks to it. #ghosting

What blocks through yonder render breaks?

@ThirlwallAssoc No problem, this is the interactive version materialepyramiden.dk

@Steve_Cook_ That is perfect, thank you!

Construction Twitter- does anyone have a very simple table/graphic that shows carbon impact of constructions elements? Want to ask attendees to rank elements in order based on room scale. Eg upvc windows, concrete floor, polyester carpet, wooden skirting. Very basic, assuming

@GeorgeRussell63 @MercedesAMGF1 Idea...vent the low pressure point on the floor pan with a variable sized vertical tube that can be tuned to perfection #Bounce with @justbrowsing68

Solid team result after yesterday's struggles. There's genuine pace in this car, we just need to find the key to unlock that performance. 👊

@HRRBFireSafety @RobinHawkes1 Unfortunately until the Building Regulations ban single staircases in high rise residential, developers are unlikely change, Building Control cannot reject if meets paragraphs 3.26 and 3.27 of ADB vol 1.

@Saltashdan @HRRBFireSafety Thats alarming, residential sprinklers are designed to be charged with water, the spring loaded valve is held shut by a glass bulb containing liquid, this breaks at around 68°C due the expansion of the liquid. False alarms are very rare unless tampered.

@HRRBFireSafety I was told by a prop developer that sprinklers can’t be fitted in flats due to the amount of fire alarm activations due to occupants smoking cigarettes and burning toast - the damaged caused by “accidental” sprinkler activations would be often and massive…

@gillkernick Thanks for the thread, reminds me of the bullet hole theory from WW2. Don't just base decisions on the data you have. onebiteblog.com/finding-the-mi… ing-bullet-holes/

3. This failure persists, we still are not using a leading indicator data driven approach to understand the real risks of another catastrophic failure in the #buildingsafetycrisis.

🧵 the 'show me your bodies' evidence by Brian Martin at the @grenfellinquiry this morning is startling. Beyond the words (which he denies using) it shows a failure to understand the nature of low probability events. #Grenfell #risk #safety

@Grainne_Cuffe Thanks for sharing...Why have Building Regs & Approved Docs not been updated to ban single stair high rise resi buildings on new build? Why no updates following Part B consultation (closed May 20) or the Call for Evidence report (September 19)? Set clear rules for new build!

Experts say it is "not acceptable to have a single direction of travel vertically going an infinite height" and question why the LFB is not a statutory consultee

The LFB raised concerns about more than 120 single staircases proposed in planning applications across the capital in the past year insidehousing.co.uk/news/lfb-raise…

@AndrewChapman50 This was an interesting letter

When will the government stop lying about Grenfell Tower? Claims that 'filler material' was added in 2006 to bring any potentially combustible element of a high rise cladding system under the limited combustibility requirement!! Like HPL decorative panels, timber framing..??

It's #NationalTreeWeek, and for many of us, that gets us thinking about our legacy... youtu.be/iAwke1MyVaY

@InklingLLP Some more information in here (Not specifically zinc) with ref to studies from Bath Uni and Oxford Brookes mcrma.co.uk/wp-content/upl…

Has anyone done any monitoring or tests on the surface temperature that zinc cladding can reach in summer, and whether there's any health and safety implication?

@SteveMcfirerisk Thanks for your insights, also need to be installed by competent operatives... and there is STILL no NVQ mandatory or optional modules required for Bricklayers to know how to install CB's - hard to demonstrate competence. essentialsiteskills.co.uk/nvq/level-2-nv…