Local Authority Building Control (LABC) faces scrutiny following the Grenfell Inquiry.
- The Inquiry’s final report highlights LABC’s failures in ensuring technical accuracy of building certificates.
- LABC admits to errors and apologises for oversight, aligning with the Inquiry’s findings.
- LABC was misled by dishonest manufacturers of cladding and insulation products used in Grenfell Tower.
- The organisation has committed to reforms and improving building control standards.
The Local Authority Building Control (LABC) has faced intense scrutiny following the findings of the final Grenfell Inquiry report. The report highlighted significant oversights on the part of LABC, specifically in ensuring that the certificates for products used in construction were technically accurate. Such oversights have been acknowledged by LABC, and the organisation has issued a ‘wholehearted’ apology for its shortcomings.
According to the inquiry, LABC was misled by manufacturers who provided dishonest information regarding the safety and suitability of rainscreen cladding panels and insulation products used on Grenfell Tower. These lapses contributed to the tragic events of June 2017, where 72 individuals lost their lives. LABC’s chief executive, Lorna Stimpson, expressed that the conclusions of the Inquiry align with the organisation’s internal findings, underscoring areas where LABC’s actions were justifiably criticised.
The Inquiry concluded that LABC must share the responsibility for the market acceptance of specific insulation products, Celotex RS5000 and Kingspan K15, for use on buildings exceeding 18 metres in height. These approvals were a culmination of a ‘complete failure’ to enforce rigorous checks and processes. Moreover, the Inquiry’s executive summary indicated that initial product assessments were often conducted by inadequately trained building control officers, with the lack of competence further compounded by the absence of comprehensive second-stage reviews.
In response to these findings, Stimpson stated that LABC is no longer the same organisation it was during the time of the Grenfell disaster. Proactive changes had already been initiated before the Inquiry began, and LABC continues to reform its operations, focusing on promoting new standards, enhancing the building safety regime, and ensuring the professional registration of building control personnel. Stimpson reassured that LABC is dedicated to fostering education, competence, and standards across the building control sector.
The LABC remains committed to reforming its practices and enhancing the standards of building control.
