Cost of Fire in Highrise Building

The recent Grenfell tower fire disaster in 2017 and Hackitt Review heightened the need to address the issues of fire safety regulations. However, increasing pressure to reduce building costs and to complete construction projects on time remains a major challenge. This study examines the cost of fire in high rise building projects and the implications for the professional development of quantity surveyors (QS). The methodology adopted is a case study approach drawing on the recent experience of the Grenfell tower fire disaster of 2017, an analysis of data collected on fire provision in high rise buildings using the BCIS database and a review of the RICS New Rules of Measurement (NRM). Given the significant cost of fire in high rise buildings, there is a need for adequate provision in fire protection by investing in costs in anticipation of fire during cost planning stages to significantly reduce the costs associated with the consequence and responses after a fire incident estimated to be extremely high in the case of Grenfell. The QS need to move away from ad hoc approaches adopted in pricing items specific to fire protection as part of a team of professionals and developing the required competencies will significantly reduce the risk of not pricing adequately for fire provision in the cost plan.