Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations: progress update - March 2026

Theme - Fire safety and Firefighting

Recommendation 26 - Mandatory Fire Risk Assessor Accreditation

Reserved area – No

Delivery – Primary legislation

Target date – 30/09/2028

Activity since last update

In August 2025, the British Standards Institution published BS 8674:2025 Built Environment – Framework for Competence of Individual Fire Risk Assessors – Code of Practice. This new British Standard highlights the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours a competent fire risk assessor is expected to have.

Scottish Government Ministers are supportive of a relevant Bill to ensure that fire risk assessors will have their competence independently verified by an accredited certification body.

Planned activity

Following the Scottish Parliament election in May 2026, work will begin to identify next steps regarding engagement and consultation.

The Scottish Government is also working closely with the UK Government and other devolved nations to ensure we are as all aligned as possible to support the development of this work.

Recommendation 29 - National Fire College Establishment

Reserved area – No

Delivery – Primary legislation

Target date – 30/09/2028

Activity since last update

UK Government have committed to consulting on the most appropriate functions for the college to fulfil and how it could best be structured and delivered, including consideration of all the functions recommended by the Inquiry. The consultation is planned to commence in May 2026.

Planned activity

The Scottish Government will continue to engage with the UK Government as this work progresses. As the consultation is now planned after the Scottish Elections, the Scottish Government will respond to the consultation including input on the functions we think would be suitable for a UK-wide approach.

Recommendation 30 - Fire College Staffing and Facilities Plan

Reserved area – No

Delivery – Primary legislation

Target date – 30/09/2028

Activity since last update

As recommendation 29 above.

Planned activity

As recommendation 29 above.

Recommendation 31 - Fire College Staffing and Facilities Plan

Reserved area – No

Delivery – Primary legislation

Target date – 30/09/2028

Activity since last update

As recommendation 29 above.

Planned activity

As recommendation 29 above.

Recommendation 32 – London Fire Brigade (LFB) Incident Commander Assessment Review

Reserved area – No

Delivery – Inspection

Target date – 30/06/2026

Activity since last update

Fieldwork related to this thematic inspection has been carried out.

Planned activity

His Majesty’s Fire Service Inspectorate in Scotland (HMFSI) has concluded all fieldwork relevant to its Thematic Inspection of Operational Training and Development arrangements within the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

Following consultation with relevant stakeholders we hope to lay the report in Parliament in June 2026.

Recommendation 33 - LFB High Risk Building Information Management

Reserved area – No

Delivery – Inspection

Target date – 31/08/2026

Activity since last update

The Inspectorate has reviewed actions taken by SFRS following the publication of the HMFSI report: Arrangements for Firefighting in High Rise Buildings 2022.

Planned activity

The SFRS Action Plan, published in response to recommendations made in the HMFSI report: Arrangements for Firefighting in High Rise Buildings 2022, has now been closed. The SFRS has taken action it considers appropriate in regard to each of the recommendations. The Chief Inspector has initiated a review of action taken to satisfy himself that this is in line with the original intent of the recommendations. This review will conclude over the summer of 2026.

Recommendation 34 - LFB Lessons Learned Implementation System

Reserved area – No

Delivery – Guidance

Target date – 30/09/2028

Activity since last update

HMFSI have undertaken an inspection of the Services Operational Assurance and Learning processes and an associated action plan has been approved by Head of Function and Director which has been submitted to the SFRS Strategic Leadership Team. HMFSI provided positive feedback around the Services Organisational Learning Group and arrangements for progressing lessons learned and the associated governance. Terms Of Reference are being updated to better reflect membership of this group.

Planned activity

The Group will meet in the next quarter to discuss current issues and learning opportunities.

Recommendation 35 - Breathing Apparatus Radio Power Review

Reserved area – No

Delivery – Technical Roll Out

Target date – Complete

Activity since last update

With the introduction of digital radios across the service, Intrinsically Safe radios are now available on all Detection, Identification and Monitoring (DIM) Vehicles, Command Support Units (CSU), Heavy Rescue Units (HRU) and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Vehicles.

Recommendation 36 - Digital Radio Implementation Assessment

Reserved area – No

Delivery – Technical Roll Out

Target date – Complete

Activity since last update

Digital Radio Switchover across all areas of the Service was undertaken on 26 November 2025 and is now complete.

Recommendation 37 - Communication Loss Response Training

Reserved area – No

Delivery – Guidance

Target date – Complete

Activity since last update

Protocols for Loss of Communications with Breathing Apparatus (BA) wearers within the risk area is captured within section 20 of the Breathing Apparatus Policy and Operational Guidance Document. This covers what the expectations and actions are for a BA Team that loses radio communications with their BA Entry Control. This forms the framework and guidance for the Services training standard. The BA Policy and Operational Guidance document is currently subjected to regular review. Loss of communications is also covered in SFRS Training for Operational Competence learning modules.

Recommendation 38 - Water Supply System Training Programme

Reserved area – No

Delivery – Guidance

Target date – Complete

Activity since last update

Learning content around this issue is now embedded within the SFRS Foundation Training Programme with further, additional training programmes held on the Services Learning Content Management System including Lesson Plans for Hydrants and Water Supplies. Such information includes:

• Diagrams of water networks
• Description of effective measures to increase water flow and pressure
• Updated Lesson Plan for Pump Drill Numbers P5 – P7, specifying that drill P7 addresses the issue of low flow
• Updated Powerpoint for High Rise to indicate that these incident types may necessitate increase water flow and pressure
• Update Lesson Plan for High Rise Scenario to include practical measures to increase water flow and pressure (also specify use of bridgeheads).

Recommendation 39 - Water Undertaker Communication Protocol

Reserved area – No

Delivery – Guidance

Target date – Complete

Activity since last update

SFRS have established a collaborative Technical Working Group (TWG) with Scottish Water and meet monthly. The TWG has a further three subgroups looking at Testing, Maintenance/Repairs and ICT/Communications. Within the ICT/Comms group, SFRS and Scottish Water are working together to further consider a water mains overlay for the SFRS Hydrant Mapping System which will provide water main pressures to help identify areas of low pressure across the network and allow local resilience planning at Local Senior Officer level.

Recommendation 41 - Firefighter Initiative Guidelines Review

Reserved area – No

Delivery – Guidance

Target date – Complete

Activity since last update

Briefings for our teams are captured within the BA Policy and Operational Guidance alongside the Incident Command Policy and Operational Guidance. This informs our training doctrine which support teams sticking to the brief and outlines a need to provide incident commanders information where that brief may need to change. Operational Discretion does exist within the SFRS but would not be considered for teams deploying outwith their given briefings. This is subject to regular review as or when national guidance changes and will be considered moving forward as business as usual.

Recommendation 57 - Phase 1 Recommendations Reassessment

Reserved area – No

Delivery – Guidance

Target date – 30/09/2028

Activity since last update

Fire safety leaflets were sent to all high-rise domestic buildings on the current high rise inventory list in December 2025. The leaflets provided practical information on how to prevent fires as well as what to do in the event of a fire in the building or flat itself. It also explained the principles of stay put, as well as providing information for those in buildings undergoing cladding remediation.

The Scottish Law Commission has provided its report to the Scottish Government on the potential for introducing mandatory owners’ associations. This will be considered by Scottish Government Housing colleagues. Mandatory owners’ associations would be a vehicle for ensuring that people in high rise domestic buildings who would benefit from them, have a person-centred risk assessment in place.

Planned activity

Scottish Government Housing Division will consider the Scottish Law Commission’s report on the potential for introducing mandatory owners’ associations.

Recommendation 58 – Local Government Association (LGA) Guide Paragraph 79.11 Review

Reserved area – No

Delivery – Guidance

Target date – 30/09/2028

Activity since last update

Fire safety leaflets were sent to all high-rise domestic buildings on the current high rise inventory list in December 2025. The leaflets provided practical information on how to prevent fires as well as what to do in the event of a fire in the building or flat itself. It also explained the principles of stay put, as well as providing information for those in buildings undergoing cladding remediation.

The Scottish Law Commission has provided its report to the Scottish Government on the potential for introduction mandatory owners’ associations. This will be considered by Scottish Government Housing colleagues. Mandatory owners’ associations would be a vehicle for ensuring that people in high rise domestic buildings who would benefit from them, have a person-centred risk assessment in place.

Planned activity

Scottish Government Housing Division will consider the Scottish Law Commission’s report on the potential for introducing mandatory owners’ associations.