The Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report published on Wednesday 4 September was the culmination of more than seven years of work by the inquiry and followed publication of the Phase 1 report nearly five years ago.
One of the more telling images from the end of the sessions in 2022 was the Grenfell “web of blame” (see below) reflecting the unedifying spectacle of key players seeking to blame others without accepting responsibility for their own shortcomings.
The phase 2 report was a cogent and extremely well written report which included an assessment by the inquiry of the responsibility and shortcomings of a number of organisations – some now being investigated by the Metropolitan Police and potentially facing prosecution.
Within the very large report, consideration of the lifts was a relatively small element yet occupied a chapter. The focus was on why the existing lifts were not able to recalled or taken under the control of firefighters (the subject of a recommendation of the Phase1 Report resulting in requirements of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.
Concerns with switch reliability were compounded by apparent problems with variation in dimensions in drop keys available resulting in some not being able to operate the switch. This resulted in the only lift-specific recommendation in the Phase 2 report – for the government to seek urgent advice from the Building Safety Regulator and the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) on the nature and scale of the problem and the appropriate response to it.
Concerns with the evacuation of vulnerable people recurred a number of times through the recommendations along with a reiteration of the recommendation from the Phase 1 Report for personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) for all residents whose ability to self-evacuate may be compromised (such as persons with reduced mobility or cognition).
Elsewhere, many of the 58 recommendations would, if adopted, have very significant impacts on the construction industry and its regulation, including some very significant implications for our sector. Some of these are explored in a longer piece on the LEIA website: https://www.leia.co.uk/grenfell-inquiry-phase-2-report/