Fire 2021 Conference

November 11, 2021

Michael Goodwin QC, Sailesh Mehta, Valerie Charbit and David Claxton attend FIRE 2021 at the QEII Conference Centre, London.

On 9 November 2021 members of Red Lion Chambers’ Fire Law Team attended the Fire 2021 Conference organised in association with the National Fire Chiefs Council, The Institute of Fire Engineers and the Fire Protection Society. This was the UK’s leading fire safety conference.

The conference headline “learning lessons, shaping the future” set the scene for an inspiring and informative series of fire professional addresses, and workshops. The current challenges faced by the sector were tackled head on during the conference, including a comprehensive review by AICO of fire safety across the UK working with local authorities and individuals.

Following Steve Hamm’s (CEO, Institute of Fire Engineers) address, Lord Stephen Greenhalgh, Minister of State for Building Safety and Communities, focused on the government’s proposals to address the regulatory failures reported by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. These included the recently implemented Fire Safety Act 2021, and the Building Safety Bill which is currently passing through the House of Commons; and how these will strength the Fire Safety Order.

Tim Galloway (Deputy Director HSE) addressed the changes to the whole process of designing, construction maintaining and managing safety and living in high rise buildings. Of particular relevance to the work of RLC’s Fire Team, was the role the Building Safety Regulator will have going forward in enforcement, once the reforms become law, and this new more stringent regulatory regime is rolled out.
Continuing the collaboration and cooperation themes of the conference an illuminating Panel debate was held on modern methods of construction, and whether enough is being done to avoid another cladding construction disaster.

The conference also involved a number of workshops and an address on the reform of the fire and rescue service by Mark Hardingham (Chair: NFCC)
Red Lion Chambers Fire Law Team advises and represents corporations, company directors, UK fire and rescue authorities, as well as public and investigatory bodies.

Red Lion Chambers Fire Law Team advises and represents corporations, company directors, UK Fire and Rescue Authorities, as well as public and investigatory bodies. Our webinars are widely attended, and are in conjunction with leaders in the field.

Visit [Red Lion Chambers (Fire Law)] for more information.