Social Housing Fire Safety
The Grenfell Tower disaster of 2017
The Grenfell Tower disaster of 2017 dramatically added urgency to the way people looked at fires, reminding them of the tremendous devastation such a disastrous event can cause. Laws like the Building Safety Bill were introduced so that fires, even though inevitable, would not cause massive damage to property and loss of lives. Moreover, all sectors, including those more vulnerable to damage, such as social housing, have become more aware of measures like passive fire protection (PFP).
With large populations contained in social housing, there is a common need for everyone to feel safe, which highlights the need to have proper PFP solutions. For more than 30 years, FCS has provided customised fire protection solutions to various sectors, including social housing. Our expertise guarantees fire safety measures will be effectively implemented in your building, keeping residents and property safe while extending the structure’s lifespan.
The Unique Challenges of the Social Housing Sector
In our experience, one major challenge in implementing fire safety programmes in social housing facilities is the fact that these buildings are occupied the entire year. FCS is up to the challenge of ensuring fire protection while all of the building’s users go about their daily lives.
Our teams also have to direct our efforts through the complexities of the social housing sector. One of these complexities is ensuring that both building and legal requirements are met. These two sets of requirements are not in perfect sync in numerous cases, so we make sure that there is flawless assessment, design, and installation of fire strategy elements for the benefit of all stakeholders. If something is compromised, the residents feel they get the shorter end of the stick.
Since social housing involves large populations with a personal interest in keeping their homes safe, we make it a point to liaise with them directly. As social housing areas in cities are diverse communities, we make sure to address the complex make up of these communities, such as language barriers, personal preferences, and schedules. Doing this ensures all households that we are sensitive to all their needs while advancing the cause of fire safety and protection to the entire population, whether they are in sheltered accommodations or supported housing.
FCS Group also offers FCS Group Compliance+, where clients can take advantage of our services in fixed-term contracts so they enjoy scaled costs and unmatched benefits. With a fixed contract, there is no need to constantly arrange fire door inspections and remediation, as we will already have an agreed schedule for these activities. Thus, worrying about unexpected fees and being updated about a facility’s compliance are things of the past.
How to Get it Right for Social Housing
A key ingredient in a fire strategy for social housing is passive fire protection (PFP). As these facilities are densely populated, we can only do so much in terms of educating everyone on fire safety. If the structure has weak PFP, there is not enough protection for the core structure in case of fires that will most likely spread quickly. Thus, it is essential that all aspects of PFP, such as riser doors, fire doors, fire stopping, roof voids, firewalls, fire curtains, and partitions, are present in a social housing facility. When fires are kept from spreading in such a building with a large population because of PFP’s, then that is already a major victory. The PFPs have proven their effectiveness.
With our third-party accreditation from LPCB, Firas, and BM Trada, you are assured our services are fully compliant and of the highest quality standards.
What’s Next?
Get a No Obligation Quote
Call, email or complete the enquiry form. It will only take 24 hours for a formal quotation to be sent electronically.
Book an appointment
Once a date has been agreed, one of our expert assessors will be assigned to attend your property on the said date.
Attend site
Our assessor will be onsite on the agreed date and time. The Fire Risk Assessment will be conducted with minimum disruption to your business activities.
Report sent to client
A validated, comprehensive, suitable, and Sufficient report will be completed and distributed within five working days.
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