Social Housing

Fire Risk Assessment at Vulnerable Young Adults Social Housing, Shrewsbury

Project Overview

Property: Whole property Fire Risk Assessment of a purpose built blocks of flats

Industry: Accommodation

Contract Awarded to: RiskFire

Type of Contract: FRA

Project Scope: Fire Risk Assessment

Location: Shrewsbury

Project Duration: 1 day

Scope of Works

RiskFire was contracted to conduct a Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) for a residential building accommodating vulnerable young adults. The primary objectives were to ensure the safety of residents, identify compliance gaps with fire safety regulations, and recommend solutions to meet the standards set out in The Fire Safety Order (2005), Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998, and relevant British Standards (BS5839 and BS5266).

Challenges

The FRA revealed several critical areas requiring attention:

• Gas Safety:
• No evidence of an annual Gas Safe inspection or boiler/heating system service records.
  
• Fire Door Integrity:
• Bedroom doors lacked intumescent seals, which are critical for effective compartmentation in the event of a fire.
• Signage:
• Insufficient fire action notices at the main entrance, potentially hindering occupants' understanding of evacuation procedures.
  
• Policy and Responsibility:
• The organization lacked a formal written policy outlining:
• Fire safety responsibilities at board and management levels.
• The designation of a Responsible Person for the premises.
• Assigned roles for maintenance and testing of life safety systems.
• System Maintenance and Testing:
• The fire detection and alarm system was not being serviced periodically as required by BS5839.
• Emergency lighting lacked annual discharge testing in accordance with BS5266.
• No documented routine testing of emergency escape lighting systems.
• Record-Keeping:
• Absence of a centralized file containing test certificates, maintenance records, and service documentation.

Solution Provided

RiskFire implemented a structured approach to resolve these challenges:

• Gas Safety Compliance:
• Recommended an immediate Gas Safe inspection of all gas appliances, installation pipework, and flues.
• Advised that annual service records of the boiler and heating system be maintained to ensure compliance with the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998.
• Fire Door Improvements:
• Installed intumescent seals on all bedroom doors to improve fire resistance and containment.
• Improved Signage:
• Installed additional fire action notices at the main entrance to provide clear instructions for evacuation procedures.
  
• Policy and Responsibility Framework:
• Assisted the organization in drafting a comprehensive fire safety policy, including:
• Board-level accountability for fire safety.
• Designation of the premises manager as the Responsible Person.
• Written assignments for proactive maintenance and emergency actions.
• System Servicing and Testing:
• Scheduled periodic servicing of the fire detection and alarm system per BS5839.
• Conducted an annual 60-minute discharge test of emergency lighting as required by BS5266.
• Established a monthly testing regime for emergency escape lighting systems.
• Record-Keeping Enhancement:
• Recommended a centralized fire safety file be stored near the main entrance, containing:
• Test certificates and inspection records for all safety systems.
• Maintenance and service records for fire detection, alarm systems, and emergency lighting.
• Gas appliance and boiler service documentation.

Results

RiskFire’s recommendations and actions resulted in:

• Full compliance with the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 through scheduled inspections and service records.
• Enhanced compartmentation and fire safety with the installation of intumescent seals on bedroom doors.
• Improved occupant awareness and preparedness through clear fire action signage.
• Clear accountability for fire safety responsibilities, supported by a robust written policy.
• Compliance with BS5839 and BS5266 through regular servicing and testing of fire detection and emergency lighting systems.
• Transparent and accessible record-keeping, ensuring all compliance documentation is readily available for review.

Conclusion

Through a meticulous Fire Risk Assessment and targeted interventions, RiskFire significantly improved fire safety standards for the purpose-built flats in Shrewsbury. The project highlights the importance of integrating compliance measures, proactive maintenance, and clear accountability to protect vulnerable occupants and ensure peace of mind for all stakeholders.

This FRA was completed using the Firehub app.

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