As we know, in the early morning hours of 14th June 2017, a fire broke out in the 24-storey Grenfell Tower residential block in West London. The blaze killed 72 people, making it the worst residential fire in the UK since the Blitz during the Second World War. Seven years later, on 4th September 2024, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry published its final report into the disaster.
The public Inquiry was announced by the then-Prime Minister of the UK, Theresa May, the day after the fire, with an objective of examining the circumstances leading up to and surrounding the fire. Later during the same month, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, a retired judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, was appointed as the Inquiry’s Chairman.
What were the key findings of the phase 2 report – and how can Vision Pro software help with future fire safety compliance in UK buildings?
The final, phase 2 report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry set out how a chain of failures across government and the private sector contributed to the fire.
The report apportioned responsibility for the disaster widely, citing “decades of failure” by central government to prevent the widespread use of combustible cladding, as well as the “systematic dishonesty” of companies whose products led to the fire’s rapid spread.
The 1,700-word publication offers sobering lessons, then, for a broad range of parties. Not least among these is the UK Government, which has said it will “carefully consider” the report’s recommendations, “to ensure that such a tragedy can never occur again.”
However, there are also many other stakeholders who have good reason to pay close attention to the Inquiry’s findings. If you are reading this as a landlord, property manager, health and safety manager, or anyone else with responsibility for the fire compliance of a building or series of buildings, you may be on the lookout for a way to help you fulfil your duties.
Below, we have outlined some of the most important findings of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase 2 report. Alongside this, we have set out specific features of our Vision Pro software that can assist you across the various aspects of property management addressed by the report.
1. Inadequate building and fire safety regulations
- Failing identified: the building’s cladding and insulation materials were highly flammable, which contributed significantly to the rapid spread of the fire. There was also a lack of stringent enforcement and updating of fire safety regulations.
- Vision Pro Fire Risk Management Software solutions: Vision Pro incorporates regulatory compliance tools to ensure that buildings comply with up-to-date safety regulations and standards. This includes the tracking of any changes in regulation, as well as the automation of compliance checks.
2. A lack of effective fire safety management and risk assessment
- Failing identified: risk assessments were inadequate, and the building’s fire safety management did not identify or mitigate significant hazards.
- Vision Pro Fire Risk Management Software solutions: the fire risk assessment software built into Vision Pro provides automated tools to help building managers conduct thorough and regular fire risk assessments. This allows for potential hazards to be identified, and mitigation measures to be suggested.
3. Inadequate emergency response and communication
- Failing identified: emergency response to the fire was hampered by poor communication, unclear evacuation plans, and difficulties in coordinating between various agencies.
- Vision Pro Fire Risk Management Software solutions: the integrated platforms that make up Vision Pro’s emergency management systems help enhance coordination between emergency services, in addition to providing real-time data and improving communication during incidents. We also offer evacuation planning tools, which design and test evacuation plans. This ensures that routes are optimised, as well as that occupants are aware of procedures in case a fire does occur.
4. Insufficient fire safety information for residents
- Failing identified: residents were not adequately informed about fire safety procedures or the risks associated with the building’s materials.
- Vision Pro Fire Risk Management Software solutions: our software combines apps with a web-based platform to provide effective residents communication. As a result, those who live in buildings can be kept informed about fire safety procedures, updates, and emergency plans. Interactive fire safety training can also be provided to residents, educating them on fire safety practices through simulations and interactive learning.
5. Data management and integration
- Failing identified: there was a lack of centralised data on the building’s safety features, maintenance records, and materials used. This led to delays and confusion during the investigation.
- Vision Pro Fire Risk Management Software solutions: our software incorporates building information modelling (BIM). Centralised systems store detailed information about every aspect of a building, ranging from materials used to maintenance records. Furthermore, all stakeholders can access this information.
6. Failure in continuous monitoring and maintenance
- Failing identified: there were lapses in the maintenance of fire safety systems, with not enough being done to ensure that all safety features were operational.
- Vision Pro Fire Risk Management Software solutions: our software includes predictive maintenance tools. These systems use sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) technology to monitor the condition of fire safety systems in real time. As a consequence, it can be predicted when maintenance will be required in order to prevent failures. Our software also allows for easier and more efficient inspection management. It incorporates tools that automate and track inspections, thereby ensuring all aspects of fire safety are regularly checked and maintained.
7. Poor documentation and recordkeeping
- Failing identified: documentation related to fire safety, building modifications, and materials was incomplete or missing. This complicated the investigation and the task of holding relevant parties accountable.
- Vision Pro Fire Risk Management Software solutions: secure systems for document management are a key element of Vision Pro. These platforms ensure that all records, including safety certificates, inspection reports, and building modifications, are stored, organised, and easily accessible.
Conclusion: Vision Pro can play a critical role in managing fire safety
The Grenfell Tower fire, and the ensuing Inquiry report, exposed severe deficiencies in building safety management, communication, and regulation enforcement.
Vision Pro Fire Risk Management Software, if effectively implemented, can play a significant role in reducing such disasters by enhancing compliance, improving risk assessment and management, optimising emergency response, and ensuring better communication and documentation.
In this respect, Vision Pro Fire Risk Management Software can very much provide the “golden thread” for compliance. To learn more about this software package and the many benefits of its use, please contact us to arrange a free no-obligation trial.
Photo Credit by Matt Brown
