Fire safety: what s next? Jan Taranczuk CIHCM June 2018
A presentation in 2 parts! First part of the presentation shares what a London Borough was doing prior to Grenfell Second part is about all of us in social housing
Differences in legislation The law may not be the same, but The intention IS the same: To keep residents safe
Ealing s numbers 17,000 (inc 5,000 leaseholders) properties 34 Tower blocks: highest is 21 storeys 30 Sheltered blocks 120 converted houses 762 Fire risk assessments Fire safety works: 3M annually Lateral mains: 1.5M annually Alarms: 3M over 3 years Renewed over 3,000 doors so far 4
Putting policy into practice Policy review Understand the stock Resolve outstanding issues Prioritise the FRA recommendations Create a structured way to implement improvements Then do it! 5
What Ealing took into account Recommendations from the Coroners of Lakanal, Shirley Towers, Derby. High priority issues identified in the FRAs What we already knew What we learned from others 6
The priorities Tower blocks: passive Sheltered blocks: passive +alarms Converted houses: passive + linked alarms Supported housing: passive + alarms + misting system 7
Elements of change Fire alarm upgrades in sheltered housing Upgrade lateral rising mains Install linked alarms in converted houses Upgrade doors/doorsets/fire stopping in purpose built flats 8
Converted houses Compartmentation uncertain Linked alarms Not Stay put 9
Lateral mains Handover from Network provider No evidence of maintenance or knowledge of condition Co-ordinate with planned fire upgrade works Electrical tests in all properties 10
Fire safety improvements contract New doors/doorsets/communal doors Improved fire safety around waste disposal Proper fire sealing of escape routes Effective passive fire safety Communal ducting 3 rd party accreditation Personal misting systems On going maintenance arrangements 11
Leaseholders Offered free doors/doorsets in tower blocks Currently reviewing the lease and implications of Hackitt 12
Still much to do! Programme replacing defective rising lateral mains Some tower blocks due for demolition Sprinkler feasibility underway Door closer difficulties for some older residents 2 years more work 13
Pre Grenfell Lakanal Shirley Towers Derby
It s been a year since Grenfell: what has changed? An opportunity for knee jerk reactions! Fire doors Cladding Testing Competence 3 rd party accreditation
Do you ever take any notice of other fires? Manchester Liverpool New York
More questions! Can sleeping children hear the smoke alarm? Are there insurance implications? What about mobility scooters? Which are your high risk properties? Sheltered? Converted houses? Towers? Care homes?
The Hackitt review sets areas for change A new regulatory framework (the JCA) Stronger oversight of Dutyholders Creating Local Authority Building Standards as the gatekeeper for new/refurb building safety Improving levels of competence within the industry Clarity about roles and responsibilities: landlord and resident; create a resident engagement strategy Improving testing, marketing and quality assurance of products used in construction
What s next?! How can you create a publically available property log? How can you ensure repair work maintains compartmentation? Should you identify a Premises Champion for high risk buildings? (Tenant and/or staff member) What about sprinklers/misting/other suppression systems?
Did you have a plan before Grenfell? Do you have a plan now? Fire safety management Previous coroners recommendations The Hackitt recommendations
Sharing knowledge Open invitation to social landlords to visit sites and see different stages of the work in Ealing We all need to learn from each other! The fire services could also share more! 21
What is on your reading list? LFB Refurbishment audit tool NFCC Guidance for Specialised Housing Select Committee report of 2000 Lakanal Coroner s letters NFCC Mobility scooter guidance Inside Housing Hackitt report Grenfell latest
Want to know more? jan@jantaran.com 07970 779973 @jantaran LinkedIN