The Home Office has commissioned CS Todd & Associates to re-write the Means of Escape for Disabled People, and the other suite of fire safety guidance documents.
CS Todd & Associates authored the 2011 Local Government Association (LGA) guidance document Fire Safety in Purpose-Built Flats, with the support of Government, which has been the subject of judicial review. This guidance advised building managers that it was “unrealistic” to prepare emergency evacuation plans for Disabled residents. Last year, following the threat of legal action from a family member of a Grenfell Tower resident who died, the specific wording which legitimised inaction with regard to evacuation plans for Disabled residents was redacted by the Government. 41% of Grenfell Tower’s Disabled residents died in the fire.
The Chief Fire Officers’ Association stated that “to ignore and eliminate advice on Disabled access and evacuation is a fundamental error of the document.”
A statement released by Claddag, a group representing Disabled leaseholders said: “By awarding yet another contract to the authors of that guidance, the Government sends a message of endorsement of this discriminatory approach and demonstrates that it has learned nothing from the judicial review or the Grenfell Tower tragedy. We implore the Home Office to immediately review its decision on the award of this contract.”