The Grenfell Tower tragedy exposed fundamental and deep-rooted issues over competency, highlighting major skills and knowledge gaps amongst those responsible for the design, construction, maintenance and day-to-day operation of buildings. In this article, Jonathan O’Neill OBE, Managing Director of the Fire Protection Association (FPA), explores whether the issue of competency has become clearer since Grenfell, and argues that a greater degree of focus must be placed on fire safety competence and accountability for those responsible for building design.

Trucost, part of S&P Global, has classified all ROCKWOOL Group products as having a positive impact on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, while the company has met or exceeded two of its six sustainability targets ahead of time.

Staying safe may have taken on a new meaning in the past year, but fire safety remains top of the agenda for the construction industry. Susan Sinden, Commercial Manager of ESG Group explains why fire safety glass is still one of the most important safety measures in keeping occupants safe in a wide variety of non-domestic properties.

Scotland’s biggest building services contractor has just completed upgrading the fire compartmentation within an existing West Lothian warehouse building.

ROCKWOOL has unveiled a new flat roof zoning tool designed to help specifiers and roofing contractors balance performance criteria, regulation compliance and design targets when choosing insulation.

Brian G Newell, Founder and CEO of cladding specialist, Shackerley, discusses the need for cladding specification decisions to be made based on a full understanding of all safety criteria, rather than ticking a box for compliance.

The fire protection of critical movement joints within the main floor slabs of the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Birmingham has consumed some 1,000 linear metres of Titan Lite 120/60, as a well proven and widely specified passive fire protection product.

Increasingly, in the modern construction industry, glass fulfils a number of essential roles, in addition to allowing clear sight lines and the influx of natural light. From privacy and sound proofing to security and fire resistance, it has become one of the most versatile construction materials, as Susan Sinden, Commercial Manager of ESG Group explains.

An Advanced fire alarm control panel has been selected to protect Marsham House, a high-end apartment building in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire.

Specialist construction lawyer Rebecca Harries-Williams discusses the potential pitfalls associated with modern methods of construction (MMC), particularly the risk of fire. Rebecca, a Senior Associate with national law firm Clarke Willmott LLP, says modular construction can be an attractive prospect if the correct care is taken.

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