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SIR DENIS ROOKE LECTURE

TAKING THE recommendations of the review, which

included a fundamental reform of the
whole system. There was a need for clear
accountability for clients, designers and
contractors during construction, she
BLINKERS OFF said. One of the key recommendations
was for a stronger regulator with a Joint
Competent Authority comprising local
authorities, building control, fire and
rescue authorities and the Health and
Safety Executive. “The regulator must
hold duty holders to account to deliver
Having chaired the Independent Review of Building Regulations and maintain safe buildings,” she added.
The review also recommended the
and Fire Safety in 2018, Dame Judith Hackitt delivered this year’s implementation of the principles of a
Sir Rooke Memorial Lecture, in which she spoke about the need safety case regime for high rise complex
for us all to learn lessons and share knowledge following the tragic buildings. The challenge to industry was
to lead on strengthening the competence
events at Grenfell Tower, in July 2017. Simon Trollope, IGEM of professionals and to set out a credible
Head of Development and Knowledge Delivery, reports proposal on how to do this within a year.

IGEM’S CEO Neil Atkinson proudly government announced that all 53 “Collaboration and partnership with
introduced Dame Judith Hackitt to the recommendations in the report would and across industry will be crucial for
stage at London’s No 11 Cavendish be implemented in full. This was crucial, delivering consistent solutions and real
Square (home of the King’s Fund) to said Dame Judith, as her report had culture change.”
present this year’s Sir Denis Rooke asked the government not to “cherry
Memorial Lecture. pick” the easier things to do and “should Dame Judith concluded that the
Dame Judith has many years’ only accept all of the recommendations UK was dealing with several systemic
experience working as an engineer in a if we were to make a difference”. failures: a failure to maintain the integrity
highly regulated environment as well as Dame Judith outlined that the system and coherence of the regulatory system;
a decade spent as leader of the Health was clearly broken and not fit for purpose a failure to regard high rise buildings as
and Safety Executive. Following the and outlined how there appeared to be complex systems/processes and a failure
tragic events of Grenfell Tower, she was a race to the bottom with significant to learn lessons and translate them across
asked by government ministers to lead evidence of gaming the system. sectors in a systematic way.
the Independent Review of Building The guidance at the time was prescriptive The failure to learn, share knowledge
Regulations and Fire Safety, which but siloed, confusing and inconsistent. and look beyond your own disciplinary
made its final recommendations to It was evident, she said, that “design, boundary is a major concern, she said.
government in May 2018. change management and record keeping There is a clear need for significant
Dame Judith opened by speaking was poor, both during construction, culture change in the construction
about her career to date and how her occupation and refurbishment.” industry and also the need to rethink
experience, independence and objectivity the way we train and recognise
led her to being asked to chair the review. “Experts are not listened to, residents are professional skills and competences
The focus of the review was to have a not listened to, product testing, marketing across disciplines, she added.
broader remit to look at the regulatory and approval processes are flawed and
system for high rise residential buildings unreliable. There’s clearly an urgent need “We are facing a significant challenge and
(HRRBs). This was made all the more for improvement.” a great opportunity. It is time for us all to
complex due to the other reviews and wake up and learn the lessons – it is time to
processes taking place at the time, Of great concern to the review team take the blinkers off!”
including the expert panel and public was the fact that residents were not
inquiry into Grenfell. After agreeing being listened to and had no reliable IGEM President, Steve Edwards
the terms of reference in August 2017, means of recourse. She went on to say thanked Dame Judith for her lecture,
the review published its interim report that the lens of the consumer was saying: “It has been a privilege to listen
in the December and its final report critical to their review. to your findings and experiences, which
in May 2018. In December 2018, the Dame Judith then outlined the key will benefit every person in this room.”

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