Civil engineers act to avert Grenfell-style disasters

Grant Prior 7 years ago
Share

The Institution of Civil Engineers is launching a review of how major infrastructure projects are built in a bid to avoid a Grenfell-style disaster.

The review will look at lessons from the tragedy in terms of potential problems with procurement and all stages of the construction process.

The ICE said: “The independent review will seek to identify and address systemic issues highlighted by the Grenfell Tower fire, which may increase the risk of a serious failure of infrastructure assets and networks in the UK.”

It will be led by former government Chief Construction Advisor Peter Hansford and will complete its review by October.

Issues to be covered include:

  • Competency and capability within owners, clients and all tiers of the supply chain, including capabilities to understand and manage whole systems
  • Responsibility and accountability for safety at all stages of the assets’ life-cycle
  • Inspection and quality assurance regimes during and following construction, operational management and in-service modification, refurbishment and re-fit
  • Creation, maintenance and implementation of regulation, guidance and codes & standards
  • Assessment and management of system related risks
  • The effectiveness of industry efforts to understand and apply lessons from recent catastrophic failures
  • The impact of procurement practice, commercial arrangements and changes to professional roles and culture on all of the above.

President of ICE Professor Tim Broyd said: “ICE’s aim with this review is to establish what needs to be done to mitigate the risk of a similar tragedy resulting from the failure of infrastructure assets or networks.

“As the world’s premier civil engineering organisation it is right that we assess whether change is needed to how we procure, design, construct and maintain the UK’s infrastructure.”

Hansford said: “The Grenfell Tower tragedy has quite rightly led to a period of deep reflection amongst civil engineers about what the failings at Grenfell highlight for practices across the construction sector.

“Inevitably the Judicial Inquiry and any criminal investigation may take time to complete.  It is important however that the profession moves quickly to capture and implement lessons as quickly as possible”.

Latest news

Prep work starts for vast HS2 box slide under A46

Freyssinet designed system will push 14,500t box under Kenilworth Bypass
20 hours ago

Downing Construction hit by third year of losses

Building safety works and problem student job tip Liverpool builder £5.8m into red
3 hours ago

Problem contracts make it another tricky year for Taziker

Infrastructure specialist confident restructure and new strategy now paying off
4 hours ago

£250m Stockport homes scheme set to start

Oak Construction to deliver first block in 440-flats scheme
4 hours ago

Morgan Sindall wins Canary Wharf office-to-labs job

Construction to start this month on £65m conversion
22 hours ago

Building stone firm ignores silica dust safety warnings

Workers at risk after manufacturer ignores HSE improvement notices
4 hours ago

Resi developer Sheen Lane heading for administration

Richmond based firm has a turnover of £50m
1 day ago

Building safety act adding six months to delivery times

New approval gateways slow student room development programmes
1 day ago

Five contractors win £550m airfield framework deal

MAG picks team for Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports
1 day ago

Galldris bounces back to strong profits

South east civils specialist gets trading margin up to 11%
1 day ago

Management buyout at Midlands contractor

Family business GI Sykes sold to management
1 day ago

Taylor Woodrow wins Wolverhampton city centre revamp

£19m contract will last two-and-a-half years
1 day ago

Morgan Sindall contracts league champion for second year

Kier ranks second in closely contested race between majors
2 days ago

New Year layoffs as Scottish modular house builder collapses

East Ayrshire Connect Modular falls into administration
2 days ago

Thames Water bidders day for £2.2bn reservoir scheme

Tenders to be invited in October for new Abingdon reservoir in Oxfordshire
2 days ago

Buckingham Plant Hire quits heavy kit market

Firm to sell fleet and focus on lighter, sustainable plant
3 days ago

Clients ‘ignoring building safety’ reforms

Clients still subjecting contractors to aggressive and sub-economic pricing
2 days ago

Castleforge plans expansion after £100m data centre deal

Investor moves into booming data centre market
2 days ago

Construction output growth drops to six-month low

Subcontractor rates rise at fastest rate for 18 months
3 days ago

Suir Engineering swoops for Scottish M&E contractor

Irish M&E firm launches UK expansion with Taylor & Fraser acquisition
3 days ago

Aggregates supply firm files administration notice

Ashville Aggregates and Concrete operates across London and South East
3 days ago

Plans in for 44-storey Manchester resi tower

Developer Glenbrook to appoint contractor this year
4 days ago

Briggs & Forrester names new engineering services MD

Will Newman replaces Ian Lawrence who steps down after eight years
3 days ago

Morgan Sindall bags Salford Uni acoustics building

Planning submitted for Acoustics Building at Crescent Innovation area
3 days ago

Lambeth to release six sites for £250m homes plan

Call for development partner to deliver 450 mixed tenure homes
3 days ago

Adrian Speller joins brother as joint MD of Midlands builder

Speller Metcalfe boosts senior leadership team
4 days ago

Winner unveiled for £2.9bn aqueduct revamp

Construction costs for Haweswater Aqueduct rise to £2.9bn from £1.75bn
7 days ago

Fortem and Equans face fight for £3bn housing upkeep deal

Birmingham City Council aims to sign new 10-year deals for four regions
4 days ago

Lendlease strikes deal to sell UK construction arm for £35m

US private equity firm Atlas to finalise purchase deal by summer
1 week ago

Hercules to offload suction excavator arm

Fleet of 30 trucks generates around £5m revenue a year
4 days ago

Contractor services