Flat owners urged by MP to check fire safety forms

Al Pinkerton was elected as MP for Surrey Heath in 2024

An MP has asked apartment owners to check details of safety certificates issued since the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire after an investigation into a fire assessor.

Dr Al Pinkerton, Liberal Democrat MP for Surrey Heath, wants residents to get in touch if they have an EWS1 form completed by fire assessor Adam Kiziak and the company Tri Fire.

Professional body the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) has suspended Mr Kiziak's membership while an investigation is ongoing.

Laywers acting for Tri Fire have told the BBC the company is working to resolve the issues as soon as possible.

A summary of the case said the IFE had sanctioned Mr Kiziak for breaching its codes of conduct.

It pointed to a "failure to hold adequate professional indemnity insurance" and said he had "failed to maintain and work within professional competence".

The report also said there was a breach of the IFE's ethical principles for accuracy and vigour.

In a statement, the IFE added: "It would be inappropriate and inconsistent with our commitment to confidentiality to provide ongoing updates or detailed accounts of investigations."

EWS1 forms were introduced after the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which killed 72 people when a high-rise block in West London caught fire, and confirm the safety of external wall systems in apartments.

Pinkerton told BBC Radio Surrey the situation was having an impact on residents.

"This will be the case all across Surrey and that adds huge stress to an already incredibly stressful system of buying and selling your apartment," he said.

Building society Nationwide said the investigation into Tri Fire meant it was "temporarily unable to make lending decisions based on its reports without further information and validation".

A spokesperson added: "It is the responsibility of building owners to ensure that their building is inspected, and a valid report is in place signed off by a person with the correct qualifications.

"We are continuing to work with building owners and the wider industry to find a way forward on impacted Tri Fire cases."

A lawyer acting for Tri Fire said Mr Kiziak's suspension from the IFE had been extended pending investigation, but that suspension did not prevent him from working.

"Our client is very sorry for any distress and the difficulties that the current situation may have caused. It is working to resolve these issues as soon as possible, including alternative options for peer review," he said.