Episode Details

In this episode of Beyond Four Walls, I’m joined by Steve Evans from DALA Fire and Risk for a really honest and important conversation about where the built environment currently stands on fire safety, building safety and accountability post-Grenfell.

This wasn’t about headlines or soundbites. It was about the uncomfortable realities the industry still needs to confront.

We discuss whether the balance has shifted too far toward risk aversion, why competency on site still remains one of the biggest concerns across the sector and whether guidance is genuinely being interpreted in the spirit it was intended.

Steve shares his thoughts on:

•  The ongoing competency gap in construction and fire safety 
•  Why passive fire protection still matters more than many realise 
•  Whether “stay put” is still a valid strategy 
•  Smoke control systems and the reality of real-life fire conditions 
•  The challenges surrounding façade fire risk and PAS 9980 
•  Why the “golden thread” risks becoming more paperwork instead of usable information 
•  Commercial pressure versus genuine safety culture 
•  The role of ethics, leadership and responsibility in the future of building safety 

We also discuss one of the biggest questions facing the industry:

Are we creating genuinely safer buildings, or simply producing more documentation?

This episode is essential listening for anyone working in block management, fire safety, construction, surveying, compliance or the wider built environment.

A huge thank you to Steve Evans and DALA Fire and Risk for such an open and insightful discussion.

The DALA Group - Integrated Fire Safety & Building Compliance

DALA Fire & Risk - The DALA Group

Contact Steve on steve@dalafire.co.uk

Thank you so much for listening to Beyond Four Walls. If you’ve been inspired by today’s conversation and you’d like to share your own story, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me directly at jodie@jodiefraser.com if you’d like to be a guest on the podcast.

I’d also like to say a special thank you to my podcast producer, Shirley Ludford, at Swindon 105.5 – Swindon’s award-winning community radio station. It’s run by an incredible team of volunteers who are passionate about giving a voice to the local community. You can find out more about the station at www.swindon1055.co.uk

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