Steps to improve fire safety for tall buildings

Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, said creating regulations was a "logical and sensible step" after the Grenfell Tower report

Islanders living in tall buildings in Jersey are set to be consulted on proposals which experts say will improve safety.

The Government of Jersey said there were more than 125 tall residential buildings on the island, towering 11m (36ft) or more, which housed thousands of home owners and renters.

Officials said proposed fire safety regulations would implement some of the key recommendations from the Grenfell Tower phase one inquiry report, aimed at maintaining and improving safety.

States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service area commander, Jason Masterman, said the regulations would ensure self-closing fire doors and smoke control systems were "regularly checked and maintained".

Mr Masterman said proposed regulations would give fire crews access to accurate building floor plans

He added: "Residents will also receive clear fire safety information, and our crews will have access to simple accurate building floor plans and signposting to help them respond more effectively in emergencies"

A total of 72 people, including 18 children, died in the Grenfell Tower fire which happened on 14 June in 2017.

Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Deputy Mary Le Hegarat, said: "Thankfully, no similar fires have occurred here, but that does not mean we should not seek to make the places where so many islanders live as safe as possible.

"Approximately 19% of Jersey's tall residential buildings are estimated to be closely meeting the English regulatory requirements, with some others partially achieving them."

Officials said while there had been no "significant evidence of excessive fire risk", the island's tall buildings, as a group, were at risk of falling behind similar buildings in England in three areas.

The areas included the frequency of routine key fire safety checks, the provision of fire safety instructions to residents and the quality of building information provided to the fire service.

Officials said there was currently no dedicated Jersey fire safety law which required the buildings to manage and maintain their fire safety measures on an ongoing basis.

Le Hegarat added: "Creating regulations to implement some of the key building fire safety recommendations from the Grenfell Tower phase one inquiry report is a logical and sensible step in the light of the inquiry's findings."