Fire Safety and developments are ongoing.
Gove says he is “fully committed” to Grenfell community in penned letter
Gove said the government is “determined to learn the lessons of the past” by tackling issues that are important to the residents of Grenfell.
In the message, he highlighted that the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report is expected to be delivered to the Prime Minister in early 2024, and is currently being finalised.
Gove touched upon residents’ concerns on the progress of the criminal investigation for Grenfell to which he has said is ongoing. However, for queries on the future of the tower, Gove added that he will not make a decision “without having further conversations with [the residents] to understand [their] views”.
He added that he is aware of the issues raised by residents regarding financial pressure and agreed with the residents’ thoughts on an increase in investment needed in North Kensington, but that he will “continue[s] to support all measures to improve the quality of social housing conditions” and offered DLUHC contacts for residents to speak to for further matters.
In addition, the Secretary agreed on the need for change in social housing and mentioned The Social Housing Regulation Bill – which he said is currently being debated in parliament – “contains measures directly influenced by the experience of Grenfell Tower residents”. He highlighted that “monitoring and enforcement action will take place in more cases where there is a breach of standards”.
BSI updates BS 7273: Pt4 for securing escape doors
The amendment features commentary that will accompany the standard so that it will now directly refer to ‘BS EN 13637 Building hardware – Electrically controlled exit systems for use on escape routes’ in respect of any electrically locked door on an escape route.
BS 7273 pt4:2015 covers the operation and release of electronically controlled escape doors, setting out recommendations for the specification, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of the electrical control arrangements to actuate mechanisms that unlock, release or open doors in the event of a fire.
Government issues new fire safety guidance for ‘Responsible Persons’
The requirements apply to all non-domestic premises, such as where people work, visit or stay, including workplaces, as well as the non-domestic parts of multi-occupied residential buildings (eg communal corridors and stairways. The new requirements don’t apply within individual domestic premises.
Local Fire and Rescue Authorities remain the primary enforcing body for the Fire Safety Order, including these additional requirements. The Housing Act 2004 lists enforcement by the local authority in non-domestic parts of multi-occupied residential buildings (eg communal corridors and stairways) as well.
The enforcing body will be the Health and Safety Executive in the case of non-occupied buildings on a construction site. This task falls on the Defence Fire Safety Regulator for sites occupied for the purposes of the Armed Forces and the Crown Premises Fire Safety Inspectorate in terms of those buildings occupied or owned by the Government.
An Introduction to EN 54 Part 23 and Visual Alarm Devices
Originally scheduled for commencement on 31 March 2013, a lack of product availability from manufacturers delayed the introduction of EN 54-23. A key stimulus for its introduction proved to be the Equalities Act 2010.
Fire detection and alarm systems are intended to alert occupants of a fire within the building. It’s common to use a mix of audible and visual alarms to do so, with compliant VADs ensuring that the system generates an effective warning for all occupants of a building.
If the primary warning is a visual alarm regime, then that regime must be effective in alerting hearing impaired or hard of hearing individuals as well as those personnel working in environments with a high level of ambient noise. For example, areas where wearing ear defenders is required.