Eight Years Since Grenfell: A Turning Point in Fire Safety and the Role of Cladding Consulting in the New Era

Accountability is the New Priority

The Government’s acceleration programme and the newly proposed MHCLG task force signal a significant shift: not just identifying unsafe buildings but holding those responsible to account. This includes developers, building owners, and managing agents who have stalled or deflected on remediation. Enforcement powers are being strengthened, and the message is clear — inaction is no longer an option.

This aligns with our mission at Cladding Consulting. We do not just assess façade systems. We act as a strategic partner to leaseholders, resident groups, and property managers, and landlords, navigating the complexity of funding pathways, regulatory compliance, and practical remediation. Our team continues to work across the UK, unlocking stalled projects, and assisting in new cases always ensuring transparency and active communication with all those involved from inception to practical completion.

The Next Frontier: Compartmentation

While cladding has dominated headlines, another major issue is rising to the forefront: Compartmentation. A building’s ability to prevent fire and smoke from spreading — through properly installed firestopping, door sets, and structural protection — is often overlooked but is just as critical. We are seeing a pattern across inspected builings, even buildings deemed ‘safe’ by a FRAEW may have numerous hidden compartmentation defects.

As the industry matures beyond the initial phase of visible cladding remediation, internal fire safety will take centre stage. It is only a matter of time before lenders, insurers, and the Regulator for Building Safety push for deeper fire risk assessments that go beyond the external envelope. This is already an integral part of the Government contract with those developers who have signed the pledge.

How Cladding Consulting and Compartmentation Solutions Can Help

Cladding Consulting is already one step ahead. Our integrated approach now includes Compartmentation Solutions — a specialist division focused on internal fire safety integrity. We arrange detailed surveys, digital mapping of breaches, and remediation project management. Whilst there is no formal guidance as yet, our team will consider the same methodology used in PAS 9980 and the FRAEW to ensure that compartmentation is addressed holistically and proportionately —Compartmentation remediation should not be considered as an afterthought. 

Cladding remediation will make the external walls systems safe but that is only half the problem solved. Safe escape routes from inside a building need to be ensured and maintained.

Whether you are a Managing Agent, RTM Director or landlord, facing spiralling insurance premiums and huge amounts of additional work trying to deal with the changing pace of remediation, we provide the expertise, technical clarity, advocacy, and hands-on delivery needed to progress projects, protect lives and reputations and ensure that leaseholders do not pay towards these costs. 

A New Era in Building Safety

Grenfell was a turning point. The progress since has been hard-won but fragile. As we enter this next phase — one of accountability, internal fire resilience, and system-wide reform — there has never been a greater need for expertise in this area.

At Cladding Consulting, we provide that expertise so that you can be assured that a dedicated team is working full time without distraction to ensure that your building is made safe and leaseholders can buy sell or refinance without issue.

Safer buildings are not just a policy goal — they are a moral obligation incumbent on all of us to deliver at pace.

Steven Truman – Director, Cladding Consulting Ltd