SUMMER 2025 DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 29
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
GPSJ
More safeguarding needed as high-rise
building plans fall short
By John Davies, Managing Director at FASTSIGNS UK
Fire safety in high-rise
buildings remains one of the
most pressing public concerns
of our time. Despite new
regulations and increased
scrutiny following events like
the Grenfell Tower 昀椀re, the
reality is that essential safety
measures are still falling short.
Our own research, thanks to a
series of freedom of information
requests (FOI) from regional 昀椀re
stations around the country,
revealed the stark realities that
remain. Among other details, it
identi昀椀ed that 32% of the required
high-rise building and external wall
plans are missing nationwide.
The results are a stark reminder
of the importance of 昀椀re safety.
The documents required aren’t
just pieces of paper, but are
vital resources for emergency
responders, providing the
information needed to act quickly
and e昀昀ectively when lives are at
risk. It’s the second year we’ve
carried out the same 昀椀eld of
research. The ongoing shortfall
we’re seeing continues to highlight
a critical gap in safeguarding, one
that can’t be ignored, if we’re to
ensure the safety of both residents
and 昀椀rst responders, in high-rise
buildings across the country.
The state of 昀椀re safety in
high-rises
The introduction of the Fire Safety
(England) Regulations in 2022
represented an important step
forward, requiring responsible
persons, those legally accountable
for building safety, to provide
comprehensive building and
external wall plans for high-rise
properties.
These plans would clearly
identify 昀椀re昀椀ghting equipment,
evacuation routes and the layout
of internal and external structures,
ensuring that emergency crews
can make informed decisions in
the event of a 昀椀re.
Compliance, though, has
been inconsistent, as our
report’s results demonstrate.
With almost one-third of plans
missing, emergency services
are frequently left operating in
high-risk environments without
the full picture of a building’s
layout. In such situations, every
second counts. Delays caused by
inadequate or absent information
can mean the di昀昀erence between
a controlled evacuation and a
devastating outcome.
The importance of
consistency
Alongside data for the external
wall and building plans, we also
uncovered a lack of consistency
in how regulations are interpreted
and implemented. This approach
creates an imbalance in safety
standards depending on where
people live, unintentionally creating
confusion and misunderstanding,
which could lead to further errors.
While 50% of respondents
con昀椀rmed audits are carried out,
the research suggested they were
at varied timeframes, ranging
from annual assessments to every
four years, with some following a
risk-based approach, or instead
aligning with national guidance.
It’s my belief that a
standardised, nationwide
framework for how building and
external wall plans are created,
stored, shared and reviewed
would help eliminate these
disparities. At present, some 昀椀re
services report receiving clear,
well-structured plans, while others
are presented with incomplete
or outdated information. The
variation is too wide and until
there’s a consistent approach,
the regulations will continue to
underdeliver on their intended
impact.
The role of signage in
safeguarding
Signage plays a critical role in
guiding people to safety during an
emergency, directing 昀椀re昀椀ghters
to key points such as risers,
evacuation routes and 昀椀re-昀椀ghting
equipment. Evidence from the
Grenfell Tower tragedy also points
to signage and the role it would
have played if it were in place, in
the necessary environments, at
the time.
Yet, signage is often overlooked
or treated as a tick-box exercise.
In some high-rise properties,
signs are inconsistent, damaged
or poorly located, which only
adds to confusion in a high-stress
evacuation scenario.
Investing in high-quality,
standardised signage ensures
that critical information can be
seen and understood instantly,
even in low-light or smoke-昀椀lled
conditions. This is not an area
where corners can be cut; the
visibility and clarity of signage
can directly in昀氀uence rescue and
survival rates.
Closing the compliance gap
Addressing these issues requires
more than individual building
managers making incremental
improvements. It demands a
collective e昀昀ort and stronger
enforcement mechanisms.
Mandatory audits carried out
regularly could help identify
gaps in both documentation and
signage, before they become
critical failings. These audits
should not simply verify that
paperwork exists, but that it
is accurate, up to date and
integrated into operational plans
for 昀椀re and rescue services.
Technology also has a role
to play. Digital building plans,
accessible in real-time, could
transform the way 昀椀re services
respond, ensuring they have
John Davies
accurate layouts and hazard
information at their 昀椀ngertips.
Combined with modern,
tamper-resistant signage, these
innovations can help create
a safer, more transparent
environment for residents and
emergency responders alike.
A call for national action
Ultimately, safeguarding highrise residents cannot be left
to fragmented local initiatives.
The government must take a
stronger role in ensuring 昀椀re safety
standards are applied consistently
across the country. A nationwide
approach, underpinned by regular
audits, clear accountability and
investment in both documentation
and signage, is the only way to
close the compliance gap.
The Grenfell tragedy was
a sharp reminder of the
consequences when safety
systems fail. Since then, progress
has been made, but our recent
data shows that too many
buildings remain underprepared
for emergencies. The regulations
have set a clear expectation, but
without robust enforcement and
consistent application, their lifesaving potential is compromised.
We must move beyond
partial compliance and uneven
standards. High-rise safety
requires accurate documentation,
reliable signage and a culture
of accountability. Only then can
we deliver the reassurance that
every resident deserves and the
protection that every emergency
responder needs.
GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR JOURNAL SUMMER 2025
29
