Comprehensive online resource for building safety launched in UK

A new, comprehensive, and free online centre for building safety information has been launched this month in the UK.

The Building Safety Wiki aims to increase awareness of fire and life safety issues in the planning, commissioning, design, construction, surveying, maintenance, and management of buildings.

As reported by Liz Male, this initiative comes ahead of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s final report and recommendations, intending to share vital knowledge and information about the new building safety regime in the UK, including the Building Safety Act 2022 and related fire safety legislation.

The Wiki offers regular news updates, guidance, factual articles, and expert insights on fire and building safety from various authoritative sources.

Much of its content is sourced from the Designing Buildings Wiki, which has over 7 million users annually, 20,000 registered users, and nearly 300 articles covering building safety topics.

This existing content, accumulated over more than ten years, will be continuously updated and expanded.

Features and contributions

Users can easily find relevant information for their projects or disciplines using the Wiki’s search bar or quick links.

The platform allows anyone to contribute their knowledge and expertise by adding or editing articles to address important information gaps.

The Building Safety Wiki is sponsored by LMC (Liz Male Consulting Ltd) and Enframe Consulting.

LMC is a public relations and communications consultancy, while Enframe specialises in construction and design consultancy for architects, providing expert technical guidance on the Building Safety Act.

Liz Male, founding director of LMC, highlighted the need for such a resource: “The new building safety regime affects all aspects of construction and the built environment, setting new standards, policies and processes to restore confidence in building safety.

“Yet in our conversations with professionals across the industry, we often find big gaps in knowledge, confusion about the new rules, or just assumptions that ‘this doesn’t apply to me’.

“The Grenfell Tower Inquiry report in September will shock the world yet again with its findings, so each of us needs to play our part in ensuring such a tragedy never happens again.”

Industry impact and future prospects

Will Freeman, director of Enframe Consulting, emphasised the significance of this initiative: “This Building Safety Wiki is a significant step forward in creating a centralised hub for essential building safety information.

“Our mission is to provide a platform where knowledge is shared freely, contributing to safer building practices and ultimately saving lives.

“All architects, engineers, contractors and clients should have the knowledge they need to ensure compliance and enhance safety standards across the industry.

“I hope other fire and building industry experts will also come forward to keep adding vital information into this Wiki, and generations of students and industry professionals will benefit from the facts they learn here.”

The Building Safety Wiki represents a collaborative effort to bridge knowledge gaps and promote best practices in the construction industry.

By offering a centralised, accessible platform for sharing information, it aims to support professionals in navigating the new safety regulations and ensuring higher safety standards.

The continuous updating and expansion of content will likely make it a valuable resource for both current professionals and future generations in the industry.