Pretium Frameworks and the Hyde Group have launched a new framework, created to help public sector organisations achieve and maintain compliance with the new Building Safety Act. Here, Mathew Baxter, CEO of the Echelon Group, discusses the new framework with LABM.
The Building Safety Act was borne out of the recommendations made by Dame Judith Hackitt following the Grenfell Tower tragedy in 2017 and aims to reform building and fire safety legislation. It overhauls existing regulations and in the words of the Government aims to “create lasting change and make clear how residential buildings should be constructed, maintained and made safe.”
The consequences of failing to deliver on building safety are extremely serious but the introduction of the Act brings a host of challenges for the housing sector, at a time when resources are already being stretched by issues such as disrepair and decarbonisation targets.
Pretium Frameworks and Hyde Group have recently launched a new £1.35bn Building and Fire Safety framework, designed to support housing providers and other public sector organisations with delivering all aspects of building safety and fire safety compliance.
Designed and procured jointly by the Hyde Group and Echelon Consultancy, it places emphasis on delivering high-quality works and services, offering assurance, through a competent and accredited supply chain and builds on the success of Pretium and Hyde’s first-generation fire safety services framework, which was accessed by 32 unique external users, as well as being utilised by Hyde.
The first-generation framework, was very much focused on fire safety but the introduction of the Building Safety Act, provided an opportunity to reframe the new offer to build in additional works and services, supporting housing providers in all areas of building safety compliance.
Digital records and documentation
Under the Act those involved in the design, construction and refurbishment of buildings must keep comprehensive, up-to-date, digital records and documentation, throughout the lifecycle of a building, from the very start of the design process.
This “golden thread” of information, which must be easily accessible to all relevant parties, should incorporate the information required to understand how a building needs to be managed and detail any changes to the building and its structure, considering safety at every stage.
The new framework is designed to offer practical solutions for each element of works and services to enable compliance with the Building Safety Act, as well as building on the fire safety-related works and services from the original framework.
It is split into 11 workstreams, delivered by main contractors, specialist installers, manufacturers, technical advisers and consultants, and nine of these are further broken down into regional Lots, giving comprehensive coverage across England and Wales.
Works and services covered
The works and services that can be delivered through the framework are as follows:
- Fire doors – supply & install
- Fire doors – supply only
- Fire door inspections
- Fire door remedial works
- Fire proofing & stopping
- External wall inspections
- Fire engineer
- External wall works
- Fire risk assessors
- Fire safety projects (up to £2m)
- Fire safety projects (over £1.5m)
This includes the capacity to support with professional services and requirements such as building safety case reports, and resident engagement strategies.
It aims to provide an easy to use and flexible mechanism for housing providers to deliver vital building safety projects and fire related works, as well as accessing the relevant professional services, using a competent and accredited supply chain.
The framework has been developed using expert specialist advice, with Frankham Risk Management Services acting as technical adviser, where appropriate, and technical documents have been co-produced, with a bespoke specification for each Lot.
One of the key aspects of the framework is compliance and assurance, and all suppliers were subject to an intense evaluation process, with appropriate accreditations being checked in person, by third-party consultants, giving framework users peace of mind that all works carried out through the framework conform with current regulations.
*The Echelon Group comprises Echelon Consultancy Pretium Frameworks and Echelon Improvement Partnerships
For more information on accessing the framework, which like all Pretium Frameworks, has a cost-effective fee structure, email buildingandfiresafety@pretium.co.uk or visit www.pretium.co.uk
