Agenda item

Fire Safety update - HRA PROPERTIES

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Minutes:

Members received a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services which provided an update on fire safety to HRA Properties.   The Chairman advised that a Member, who had submitted their apologies, had asked a series of questions, which had also been put to the Community and Children’s Services Committee the previous week.  The Chairman had asked for the Member to receive written responses.

 

Officers agreed to investigate a recent spate of false alarms at Middlesex Street and advised Members that they would be increasing the specification of the alarms.  Furthermore, the generator for the fire fighters’ lift had been fitted with a sim card which would notify on activation.  Members asked for a breakdown of the recent false alarms and whether the Fire Brigade had charged for the call-outs.

 

Members noted that the City Corporation is committed to providing 60 minute rated fire doors, as a standard across all of the estates, and the doors had been tested with a maximum burn time of 75 minutes. Where this would not be possible, i.e. the block has restriction such as a listed status, there would be a minimum rating of 30 minutes, with the expectation that the door would be tested to a maximum burn time of 45 minutes.

 

Members were reminded of the Fire Brigade’s ‘Stay Put’ advice, except for common areas, and this would be reiterated to residents once the new doors had been installed.  Furthermore, the installation of sprinklers next year would have an immediate impact. 

 

Officers explained that the free swing powered doors would close until the alarm was activated and Members noted that new technologies indicate whether door closers and smoke alarms had been removed.  Officers were fully aware of the dangers associated with rapidly closing doors; i.e. trapping fingers.  Members asked for an update on the sprinkler installation project in February 2020.

 

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.

 

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