London Tower Blocks

[Stan-Marsh]

Firemen are ok at putting out fires, but are they really qualified to make decisions about the safety of gas and electric installations? They now seem to think they're qualified in building and architecture design. If councils continue to follow their advice, we could see half of London homeless.

Should this be now left to the experts, not the Jacks of all trades?

[TheChair]

If you don't think Fire Safety Officers are experts, who exactly do you have in mind for the job?

[Mamyalynne]

All agencies including Fire Safety Officers and Councils and more are working together on this.

[Ryzen]

With respect TC...the FSO who signed the cert for this building ...and many more, failed to show much 'understanding'of the relevant BS codes of practice.

[douglas9401]

Input from all areas of expertise will be needed both in the investigation and for any work to be carried out in future.
Firefighters aren't just bods in red lorries who point hoses at hot things.

[Buenchico]

Chief Fire Officers (and those immediately under them) are usually trained to degree level in all fire safety issues.

However when carrying out routine checks on high-rise buildings (rather than the rigorous ones which are now underway) they can't normally carry out destructive tests on things like insulation and cladding. They have to trust the assertions of the manufacturers and installers that the materials and methods used are up to the required specifications.

Those who are responsible for signing safety certificates frequently have to assume that others have done (or will do) their jobs properly. For example, I knew the guy (Bill Eastwood) who signed the safety certificate for Hillsborough Stadium before the terrible events there. As the report into the disaster showed, he was entitled to assume that Sheffield Wednesday and South Yorkshire Police would do their jobs properly by ensuring that the stand wouldn't become overcrowded.

[Zacs-Master]

I see we have another contributor who can't discern the more basic points of understanding on a given subject. Confusing firemen with fire,safety officers. Case in point.

[mushroom25]

//Confusing firemen with fire,safety officers. Case in point.//

in the UK, a fire safety officer is a fire fighter who has reached the rank of sub officer or above and transferred to fire safety from front line duty. it is a natural career progression for firefighters who don't want to work shifts for the rest of their career.

[THECORBYLOON]

MUSH, whilst all FSOs are firemen/women, the reverse is not true and I think that's the point Zacs was making.