The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has criticised the government for a “gross underestimate” of the number of fire inspectors needed under the new Fire Safety Bill, which will extend responsibility for fire services to inspect and enforce fire safety in the common parts of all England’s multi-occupancy buildings.
The fire services will be expected to inspect building structures, external walls, stairs and doors between residences.
But the FBU said the government expected to fund just 12 extra staff to carry out inspections in more than two million homes, from a pot of £700,000 a year. The maximum estimated spend is £2.1m, which would pay for 35 inspectors – less than one per brigade in England. It called for an immediate doubling of inspectors and a statutory advisory body for the fire and rescue service.
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