The systematic risk assessment of UK Building Regulations class 3 structures

This paper discusses the issues associated with the requirement for a ‘risk assessment' on UK Building Regulations class 3 buildings when considering disproportionate collapse. It builds on previous work on this subject and concentrates on the process of risk assessment itself, which is not defined in current formal documents. The paper emphasises the need for a broad-based approach which satisfies obligations under safety legislation as well as the Building Regulations. Consultation with others is shown to be an essential part of this process, which, for the most part, will be driven by competent engineering judgement.