Having adequate fire safety in place in high-rise flats and tower blocks is essential to protecting the lives of residents.
The terrible events of the Grenfell Tower Fire in London in 2017, highlighted in the most devastating possible way the risks of fires in tower blocks when fire safety is not taken as seriously as it should be.
V360 are one of the UK’s leading fire and security experts, offering an industry leading V-fire alarm system and waking watch services to properties across the UK.
To help both residents and management companies maximise the fire safety of their building, we have put together this guide to the best ways to keep occupants safe and prevent a repeat tragedy.
Who is responsible for fire safety in high-rise buildings?
There is no one single person solely responsible for fire safety in an apartment building, with responsibility split between residents themselves and the landlord/managing agent.
Resident Responsibilities include:
- Ensuring their flats have a working, interlinked fire detection smoke alarm system installed.
- Testing smoke alarms on a monthly basis.
- Ensuring that the front door is a fire door of the appropriate standard. (This responsibility lies solely with the tenant if the apartment is freehold, and jointly with the tenant and landlord for leasehold properties).
Building manager responsibilities include:
- Checking that appropriate fire safety measures are in place in common areas.
- Designating a responsible person to carry out a risk assessment.
- Making sure residents are aware of the building’s fire safety policy
Key fire safety measures for high-rise buildings
Some of the key fire safety measures which need to be implemented in any apartment buildings have been covered above, but here are the 6 main actions you should take in your building as a manager or landlord:
1. Conduct a full fire risk assessment
Fire risk assessments should be conducted by a designated responsible person with experience of fire safety regulations.
A fire risk assessment should identify any fire risks specific to the building itself, as well as making recommendations for further fire safety measures that should be put in place.
It is the responsibility of the building manager to make sure that recommendations are carried out.
A copy of the risk assessment should be made available to residents.
2. Educate residents on building fire safety policy.
The ‘responsible person’ who is in control of fire safety within the building should ensure that all residents are made aware of the policies and procedures in place.
Visible and easy to understand ‘Fire Action Notices’ should also be placed in common areas throughout the building detailing evacuation procedures and best practice.
3. Compartmentalisation
Splitting a tower block into compartments, separated by fire doors, is the best way to prevent a fire from spreading quickly throughout your tower block.
Compartmentalisation should NOT compromise the fast evacuation of a building and should always be conducted in accordance with the latest building regulations.
4. Keep escape routes clear
Anything obstructing fire escape routes is a major hazard.
Ensure all means of escape, including corridors and stairwells are free of flammable materials and there are no bulky objects compromising their use.
5. Install appropriate fire doors
Fire doors in common areas prevent fires from spreading and, if they are unable to access escape routes, keep those trapped inside safe until the fire service has arrived.
Fire doors should be clearly labelled and kept shut at all times to ensure compartmentalisation is achieved.
6. Maintain dry risers
Dry risers are empty pipes the fire service will use to pump water throughout high-rise buildings in an event of a fire.
The dry risers in your property should be regularly serviced to ensure they are fully functional if required.
7. Smoke Detectors
Each and every flat in the building should be fitted with domestic smoke alarms.
If your building has been identified as particularly high risk, fitted with flammable cladding similar to that used on the Grenfell Tower, a common fire alarm will need to be fitted until such time as the issues have been resolved, unless a waking watch is in place.
Waking Watch
If your building has been identified as having the same, or similar, flammable cladding as that on Grenfell Tower, a waking watch service will need to be put in place until either a common fire alarm is installed, or the cladding is replaced.
Waking watch involves trained fire wardens patrolling continually throughout the interior and exterior of the property 24 hours a day, in order to raise the alarm in the event of a fire.
V360 offers waking watch services across the UK, with highly trained officers on standby for deployment at a moment’s notice.
With an industry leading common fire alarm system at our disposal as well which can easily convert into a standard fire alarm once building regulations have been met, we are the perfect choice for short-, mid-, and long-term fire safety in high-rise properties.