As part of a coalition of organisations, built environment bodies, fire safety organisations and DPOs, DR UK has signed a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP.
Together we are asking the government to reduce the height threshold for more than one staircase in new residential buildings to 18 metres (approximately six storeys) from the government’s proposed 30 metres (about ten storeys).
We are calling on the government to reduce the height threshold for more than one staircase to 18 metres. This is what we believe to be best practice, improving safety for residents and harmonising standards with the wider regulatory environment. This would also align with rules in Scotland, where an additional staircase of 18 metres has been required for four years.
Fazilet Hadi, Head of Policy at DR UK, said:
“We are pleased to support calls for a second staircase. New buildings should have all the safety features that protect residents from fire, including second staircases, evacuation lifts and sprinkler systems. Existing buildings also need to be upgraded to protect residents.
It is essential that Disabled people who are unable to evacuate independently and safely in the event of a fire have Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans, as recommended by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.”
You can read the whole open letter at the link below.