The UK and Ireland’s five architects’ institutes have formed a combined group to ensure fire and safety guidance is standardised across the five nations
The co-ordinated body, known as The Belfast Group, will ensure architects in Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales are equally competent to design buildings to the highest level of fire safety and life protection, it has said.
The group is made up of the Royal Institute of the Architects in Ireland (RIAI); the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS); Royal Society of Architects in Wales (RSAW); the Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA); and the RIBA.
As well as developing standards for architects, the group will create standardised fire and life safety guidance to help other construction professionals make better decisions in procurement and resourcing.
The individual bodies will also lobby their respective governments for architects to have ‘unfettered access’ to national regulations, standards, and technical information relating to safety.
In a joint statement, the presidents of the five architectural institutes said: "The Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 report makes clear that more is required to ensure our buildings are as safe as possible.
The Belfast Group will share best practice, knowledge and information in design standards for life safety. This co-ordination will ensure that appropriate training and competency standards are implemented across each nation
"‘"This is relevant for every architect. While each jurisdiction has its own regulatory framework, there are core competencies on designing for life safety that transcend political boundaries and project typologies.
"‘"Therefore, the Belfast Group will share best practice, knowledge and information in design standards for life safety. This co-ordination will ensure that appropriate training and competency standards are implemented across each nation.’
They added: :We continue to work with our relevant governments to ensure that our members have access to all the regulations, standards and technical information they need whilst also providing guidance to clients on how to support the procurement and resourcing of projects, so life safety is at the heart of the appointment process.
"These steps will help deliver safer buildings for all."
The Belfast Group serves a similar UK and Ireland-wide function to the Edinburgh Group, which exists for the discussion of conservation accreditation across national boundaries.
Responding to the news, an ARB spokesperson said: "Public safety is essential and ARB’s Code of Conduct and Practice makes clear that safety should always be a core focus for all UK architects.
"‘"The guidance developed by the professional institutes will be helpful in strengthening the profession’s approach to fire and life safety design."
