Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Central Government
Action Planned
The department will raise the concern that the statutory minimum provision of smoke alarms is less than the maximum offered in British Standard 5839 with the relevant committee at the British Standards Institute for consideration, as part of a full technical review of the standards that support building regulations. (AI summary)
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Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Ministry of Housing; Government Communities & Local Government Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Fry Building 2 Marsham Street London SWIP 4DF Mr Andrew Walker North London Coroner's Service, Barnet; Brent, Enfield, Haringey and Harrow Barnet Coroner's Court 29 Wood Street
uklmhclg Barnet Our Ref: ENS 4BE nk January 2021 Deat hndsew; Thank you for your report dated 17 November under regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. was very sorry to read of the tragic death of Mr John Joseph Jennings 2Oth October 2020. report states that Mr Jennings died as a result of a fire in his home and that there were delays in calling the fire and rescue service via an alarm monitoring company: You have raised a concern that the statutory minimum provision of smoke alarms is less than the maximum offered in British Standard 5839. The current guidance supporting building regulations currently sets the minimum level of protection at LD3 in new homes. When this matter was last reviewed, it was concluded that LD3 was an appropriate standard for the general population, however it is recognised in the guidance that a higher standard may be justified where the residents of a building are more vulnerable. It is not clear your report why it was considered necessary to provide Mr Jennings with a connection to an alarm monitoring company. If this was as a result of him being identified as vulnerable, then one might ask why the level of fire detection was not also considered at that time. have asked my officials to raise this with the relevant committee at the British Standards Institute for consideration_ The Government are committed to bringing about the biggest change in building safety for a generation. Part of that programme of work is a full technical review of the standards that support building regulations the important issues of smoke alarms will, of course, be considered as part of that review. Thank you again for your letter. Aullu^ RT HON ROBERT JENRICK MP Your from
uklmhclg Barnet Our Ref: ENS 4BE nk January 2021 Deat hndsew; Thank you for your report dated 17 November under regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. was very sorry to read of the tragic death of Mr John Joseph Jennings 2Oth October 2020. report states that Mr Jennings died as a result of a fire in his home and that there were delays in calling the fire and rescue service via an alarm monitoring company: You have raised a concern that the statutory minimum provision of smoke alarms is less than the maximum offered in British Standard 5839. The current guidance supporting building regulations currently sets the minimum level of protection at LD3 in new homes. When this matter was last reviewed, it was concluded that LD3 was an appropriate standard for the general population, however it is recognised in the guidance that a higher standard may be justified where the residents of a building are more vulnerable. It is not clear your report why it was considered necessary to provide Mr Jennings with a connection to an alarm monitoring company. If this was as a result of him being identified as vulnerable, then one might ask why the level of fire detection was not also considered at that time. have asked my officials to raise this with the relevant committee at the British Standards Institute for consideration_ The Government are committed to bringing about the biggest change in building safety for a generation. Part of that programme of work is a full technical review of the standards that support building regulations the important issues of smoke alarms will, of course, be considered as part of that review. Thank you again for your letter. Aullu^ RT HON ROBERT JENRICK MP Your from