Troubling evidence of industry failures is once again in the Grenfell inquiry spotlight. After a covid-induced hiatus of several months, construction professionals are coming under scrutiny for their actions, which – you would think – must make construction firms keen to sharpen up their act. But this is not what David Stow has seen. The Arup associate director of fire engineering says that just in the last few weeks, he has personally witnessed cavity barriers and fire-stopping materials tested for vertical orientation being installed horizontally, fire-resistant boards intended for structural uses being used as fire blockers, and many other examples of workmanship that is at best complacent and at worst life-threatening.

Stow, speaking at a Building webinar earlier this month on the new building safety regulations, says he regularly sees first-hand a culture of patchy compliance. At a time when the sector is anticipating the sweeping changes that last week’s Building Safety Bill promises to bring when it comes into force, Stow says much of the industry is still “struggling to keep up”.

“Products and materials might have been justified on the basis that, well, ‘This is how we’ve always done it, so it must be right, and why are you asking me so many questions?’. Those approaches are clearly no longer acceptable.” And yet, clearly, they are still being used …