Council and democracy

Agenda item

Fire Safety Update

Minutes:

Presented by the Interim Assistant Director Housing, Richard Birchett, the report updated Members on the fire safety measures undertaken by the Council and addressed the question of retrospective installation of sprinklers in the Council’s 15 high rise blocks.

 

An ongoing programme of improvements within the 15 high rise blocks were implemented and all safety critical issues were rectified immediately and as part of the programme smoke and heat detectors were installed in each individual flat.

 

The high rise flats were designed to be safe buildings for residents and there was nothing to indicate otherwise. Since the incident with Grenfell Tower the key issues were rectified within the borough, which was evident when an incident took place in George Tilbury House. The fire only affected the flat where the fire started, the flat below with water ingress and the windows of the flat above.  . During the incident the Fire brigade advised residents to stay inside their properties as it would have been the safest place. The fire doors in the building were there to prevent the smoke and heat for around 30 minutes as confirmed through a fire inspection.

 

Fire suppressant and sprinkler systems became mandatory for all high rise buildings over 30 metres in height in England in 2007. However building regulations are not retrospective and therefore it is not a requirement to fit them into the 15 high rise blocks. Sprinkler systems are in place in the bin rooms on the ground floor which were monitored by the concierge and control rooms.

 

It was estimated the total cost of retrospectively fitting sprinkler systems into the 15 high rise blocks would cost around 3.3million, although there had been £10,000 granted for each high rise block from ECFRS this would not fund the installation of sprinklers.

 

The Chair asked for an update on the Guidance and Regulations from the Government on fire doors, as the information available to the council and set out in the report was limited. The Interim Assistant Director Housing, Mr Birchett advised that there were on-going discussions between the Government and the fire door manufacturers on the type of testing that would be required on all new fire doors.. 

 

Councillor Spillman expressed how disappointed he was with the lack of information in the report as during the last Full Council meeting, Members had asked for information to be clarified and he did not feel this was done.

 

The Interim Assistant Director Housing, Mr Birchett specified that a review was completed and a range of safety measures were in place in the high rise blocks, and there had been no specific direction from the Government to owners of high rise blocks to retrospectively install sprinklers.

 

Councillor Spillman highlighted that other Local Authorities had installed the sprinklers and at Full Council it was unanimously voted for the report to be brought back with more information.

 

The Corporate Director of Adults, Housing and Health, Mr Harris agreed to bring the report back to Committee, and confirmed that the Government had not issued any guidance or regulation on retrospectively fitting sprinklers in high-rise blocks..

 

Councillor Jefferies said the biggest reassurance for residents was to feel safe in their properties. He went on to ask for more information regarding the George Tilbury House incident.

 

The Corporate Director of Adults, Housing and Health, Mr Harris explained the fire took place in one flat and the fire brigade attended rapidly and the fire was immediately put out. An analysis was done after the fire and it confirmed that water penetrated to the flat below and smoke impacted on the exterior windows of the flat above. There were only 4 flats affected by the fire.

 

The Interim Assistant Director Housing, Mr Birchett explained to the Committee, the fire took around 40 minutes to be put out, and it was tackled through the front door. The report from the fire brigade indicated that the fire doors worked appropriately along with the landing fire restrictions.

 

Councillor Jefferies advised that if the fire brigades felt the sprinklers were needed then this would have been included in the report, however there were no recommendations.   

 

Councillor Rice explained that there would need to relevant funding for the sprinklers.

 

The Corporate Director of Adults, Housing and Health, Mr Harris advised that a report regarding the budget would be presented at the following Committee, and the Local Authority would require external support as there is no funding in the HRA.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.1  The Committee is asked to comment on the contents of the report and the ongoing fire safety work undertaken by the housing service to ensure all council rented properties are safe.

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