New panel will review approved documents in line with Grenfell Inquiry recommendations

The government has appointed a panel of experts to review building regulations following the Grenfell Inquiry’s recommendations.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has announced the “Fundamental Review of Building Regulations Guidance panel” to review statutory guidance known as approved documents.

The panel includes Danielle Michalska-Morris, director of research and technical innovation at Taylor Wimpey and Rachel Ferguson, senior development manager at Pocket Living.

It also includes Dinah Bornat, architect and director & co-founder of ZCD; Dan Rossiter, built environment sector lead at the British Standards Institute; Professor Luke Bisby, chair of fire and structures and director of discipline at the University of Edinburgh and Dr Hywel Davies, technical expert, at the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.

MHCLG last December announced that the Building Safety Regulator would be leading a fundamental review of guidance, including how it is produced, structured and presented.

The approved documents contain guidance of the performance expected of materials and building work, including examples of how to achieve compliance.

The Grenfell Inquiry raised concerns about how the guidance is expressed and recommended it be urgently reviewed.

The new panel will inform the review, with the aim to produce an interim report early next year and a final report by next summer. 

At-a-glance: The panel

Danielle Michalska-Morris, director of research and technical innovation, Taylor Wimpey

Rachel Ferguson, senior development manager, Pocket Living

Dan Rossiter, built environment sector lead, British Standards Institute

Dinah Bornat, architect and director & co-founder, ZCD

Professor Luke Bisby, chair of fire and structures and director of discipline, University of Edinburgh

Dr Hywel Davies, technical expert, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.

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