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<p>Building regulation guidance provides that newly built high rise accommodation,
over 30 metres, is constructed with a sprinkler system.</p><p>The Department wrote
to all social housing providers in 2013 following the recommendations in a Coroner’s
report into firefighter deaths which occurred at Shirley Towers in Southampton in
April 2010. That letter encouraged providers to consider the retrofitting of sprinklers
in older residential tower blocks. The Department then reinforced the content of that
letter in its response to the Coroner’s report into the Lakanal House Fire – a copy
of which can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/205567/Annex_B_-_SoS_DCLG_Rule_43_response.pdf"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/205567/Annex_B_-_SoS_DCLG_Rule_43_response.pdf</a></p><p>An
independent expert panel has been set up to provide advice to the Government on any
immediate measures needed to make buildings safe following the Grenfell Tower fire.
The panel will be led by Sir Ken Knight, former London Fire Commissioner and former
Government Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser. It will consider safety measures, policies,
inspection and regulation, taking account of both the Grenfell Tower fire and ongoing
fire safety inspections. It will look at any immediate action required to ensure public
confidence that everything possible is being done to make all public and private buildings
safe as quickly as possible.</p>
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