Case Study: Specialist Housing in Gillingham

Supported Living Accommodation Gillingham

Project Overview

Property: Specialist supported living accommodation.

Industry: Accommodation

Contract Awarded to: RiskFire

Type of Contract: FRA

Project Scope: Fire Risk Assessment

Location: Gillingham

Project Duration: 1 day

Scope of Works

RiskFire was engaged to conduct a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) for a specialist housing facility in Gillingham. The property supports vulnerable residents, requiring enhanced fire safety measures and staff training. The objectives were to assess current fire safety compliance, identify gaps, and recommend solutions to meet the standards of BS5306, BS5266, and The Fire Safety Order (2005).

Challenges

The assessment identified several fire safety issues:

• Fire Warden/Marshal Training: 
• Staff lacked specialized training on the use and purpose of portable and fixed firefighting equipment.
• Firefighting Equipment Servicing: 
• Portable fire extinguishers were not being serviced annually as required by BS5306.
• The fire extinguishers in the office area were unsuitable and poorly maintained.
• Emergency Lighting:
• No annual 60-minute discharge testing of emergency lighting was being carried out as required by BS5266.
• Fire Door Maintenance:
• The fire door to the living room was damaged and required repair.
• Fire door closers across the property required adjustment to ensure they closed properly under their own action.
• Inadequate Office Fire Extinguishers:
• The office area lacked appropriate firefighting equipment.
  

Solution Provided

RiskFire implemented a structured approach to resolve these challenges:

• Fire Warden/Marshal Training:
• Arranged specialized training for staff, covering:
• Proper use of portable fire extinguishers.
• Understanding the purpose and operation of fixed firefighting equipment.
• Fire Extinguisher Servicing:
• Engaged a third-party accredited provider to service all portable fire extinguishers annually as per BS5306.
• Installed x1 CO2 and x1 foam extinguisher in the office area to meet the specific fire risks and advised on periodic servicing.
• Emergency Lighting Compliance:
• Scheduled annual 60-minute discharge testing of emergency lighting systems in line with BS5266.
• Engaged a competent provider to conduct and certify all tests.
• Fire Door Repairs and Adjustments:
• Repaired the damaged living room fire door to restore its integrity.
• Adjusted all fire door closers to ensure they closed properly under their own action, improving compartmentation.
• Record-Keeping:
• Recommended maintaining a centralised file containing records of all training, servicing, and testing to ensure compliance and easy access during inspections.

Results

RiskFire’s interventions delivered the following outcomes:

• Staff gained confidence and competence through specialized fire warden/marshal training, ensuring they can respond effectively in the event of a fire.
• Annual servicing of portable fire extinguishers improved compliance with BS5306 and ensured the equipment was ready for use.
• Properly maintained and suitable fire extinguishers were installed in the office area, addressing specific fire risks.
• Emergency lighting systems were compliant with BS5266 through scheduled discharge testing by competent providers.
• Repaired and adjusted fire doors enhanced compartmentation, significantly improving the property’s overall fire safety standards.
• Comprehensive record-keeping ensured transparency and preparedness for future fire safety audits.

Conclusion

By addressing key fire safety issues, RiskFire helped the Gillingham specialist housing facility meet compliance requirements and improve the safety of its residents and staff. The project underscores the importance of ongoing training, proactive maintenance, and clear record-keeping to uphold fire safety standards in supported living environments.

This FRA was completed using the Firehub app. 

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