Agenda item

Fire Safety Update - HRA Properties

Report of the Director of Community & Children's Services.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report from the Director of Community & Children's Services on the Fire Safety Update – HRA Properties.

 

The Committee was informed that the sprinklers works are due to go out to the tenders soon. The delay was due to the Great Arthur House being a listed building, which had raised some issues. The Committee was also informed that further fire risk assessments would be carried out as three years have elapsed since the last test. A new contractor, Turner & Townsend, has been appointed to assist with the future fire risks assessments.

 

It was noted that in March 2020, the Department undertook the installation of a temporary door set at one property in Great Arthur House so that, the original door set could be removed and sent away for destructive testing to assess its level of fire and smoke resistance. The national expectation for a door set of this type and age is 15 to 20 minutes fire resistance; however, in this instance, the door set failed in less than five minutes.

 

A Member raised serious concerns that the above test failed in less than five minutes and the need to escalate the Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP).  The Assistant Director, Barbican Estate & Property Services, responded that the door tests failed mainly due to the fanlights space above the doors. The intermediary work was carried out on the fanlight space above the doors. The majority of the doors have been replaced to deal with the particular issues; the delay was due to gaining access to some of the properties to carry out the work.

 

A new fire alarm system has now been installed in Great Arthur House, along with signages being updated and the residents been written to the changes. The Committee was assured that Officers reacted quickly to address the issues raised, rather than ignore the problem. The Member called for an escalation of the Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) implementation.  

 

The Member also noted that there was a power outage in Basfield, and residents reported fire sparks; the Member asked if the fire extinguishers can be added in communal areas and if this is not the policy, can the matter be confirmed. The Assistant Director, Barbican Estate & Property Services, agreed to return to the Committee on the matter after the meeting. In terms of the Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP), the Committee was assured that a report would be presented to the Committee in its next Committee meeting.

 

The Chairman of the Grand Committee noted that some of the fire signages are not making any sense in the Barbican. The Chairman of the Grand Committee requested an assurance that this is not the case with the HRA properties. The Assistant Director, Barbican Estate & Property Services, confirmed that the HRA properties' signs are all correct and verified by an independent consultant. The Committee was further reassured that there are no issues with regards to the HRA properties fire signages.

 

This was followed by another Member who asked if an update on the fire sprinkler installation completions can be provided.  The Assistant Director, Barbican Estate & Property Services, advised the Committee that the relevant Department is working towards an installation date by October 2021. The Committee was further reassured that if there are any delays with the work, the Committee will be notified of the reasons for the delays.

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee noted the report.

 

 

 

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