Home > Agenda item

Agenda item

Fire safety update (including sprinkler installation programme)

Verbal report from Kirsteen Roe (Head of Partnerships and Engagement)

Minutes:

Kirsteen Roe, Head of Partnerships and Engagement, gave a verbal update and showed a video of the work being carried out:

 

·         Sprinklers are being installed;

·         They are activated by heat;

·         Contractors are finding the most unobtrusive places to put the ducting, which is boxed in;

·         The sprinkler heads are covered with a white disc. This cannot be painted. However, the boxing can be painted by the resident if desired;

·         There is engagement with residents to ensure all questions about the installation are answered;

·         Q&A sheet has been prepared and shared;

·         Basic Q&A is on the website;

·         More detailed questions will be in a booklet given to residents having works carried out;

·         There has been press interest and interviews have taken place;

·         There remains a zero tolerance policy regarding inappropriate storage of items which block exits and the majority of residents are taking this on board but there have been some complaints and threats against staff;

·         Finding solutions for storage elsewhere;

·         Leaflets have been put up in properties about what to do in a fire situation;

·         Fire safety chart produced – easy to understand and pictorial – will be in all new tenant packs packs and is being displayed in communal areas of blocks.

 

Marilyn Smithies reported:

“On Monday 9th October myself and Colin Wood were invited by Croydon Council to visit 98-176 College Green in Upper Norwood as it is the first block to receive a sprinkler system.  This block was chosen as Mulalley is already on site delivering other works.

 

The flat we visited was on the 9th floor.

 

I must say I was very impressed by the completed work.  It was so well done that it was not obvious to the eye and blended in with the existing walls in the rooms and hallway (excluding the bathroom).

 

We were taken round the flat by Ralph Ede who is a Project Manager at Mulalley’s and who will be project managing the sprinkler programme going forward.  Mr. Ede was very helpful and explained how the sprinkler system works and clarified the following questions I put to him:

1.    If there are no Wardens on site, how are residents in sheltered blocks informed of the set hours and any other information regarding the work?

The contractors work from 8am-5pm and residents are informed personally by a Mulalley Resident Liaison Officer who will go to each flat with a leaflet containing all the necessary information and will let the resident know when the work will commence and what it will entail.

The work takes approximately three days and the resident does not have to move out during this time.  The contractors will provide suitable protection to the property and move items of furniture carefully to accommodate the works. 

 

2.    Again, if there are no Wardens on site, how are residents in sheltered blocks cared for during the three-day’s work e.g. oxygen if required, meals, medication, rest, etc.?

Residents who require medication, etc. will be cared for in the communal day room.  If, however there is no such facility in the block, Mulalley will provide a facility on site until the work has been completed.

 

Colin Wood also reported that the work was “done to perfection”.  Nothing was obtrusive.

 

The following questions were raised:

 

·         Why are only high rise blocks getting sprinklers?  A block on Shrublands estate had a fire which erased the whole block, because someone left something on the stove.  Could we have fire/smoke alarms in communal areas?

We will find out what the advice is.

 

·         Where does the water go?

There is water damage potential but it is no different from the fire service spraying water.

 

·         Could we have additional signage to deter people from leaving bulky items etc?

This can be done.

 

Councillor Oliver Lewis asked about the timeframe for installations and the reliability of sprinklers – whether they might leak…

 

Kirsteen Roe explained that works at College Green are due to start by 23 October.  Communal area work will be done first and this will vary depending on where in the borough.  The work is scheduled to finish in spring next year.  The sprinklers are very reliable, tested and BS standard. 

 

·         Are you installing block by adjacent block? 

We plan to do that.  We want to try to move forward as quickly as possible, without inconveniencing residents.

 

·         What are the covers made of – plastic or wood? 

They are not plastic and are fully fire retardant.

 

·         Are instructions being issued in different languages?

We are liaising on different sites to ensure this issue is covered.

 

·         If the sprinklers are activated and cause damage, who pays?

This will be covered by insurance.  We advise all residents to have contents insurance.

 

·         At the Leaseholder meeting, the insurance contract coming up for renewal was discussed – could residents view responses so they could comment?

 

Information provided following the meeting:

All the tender returns have been received and the first stage evaluation has been done.  5 responses have been received, all of which are very competitive and do not reflect large increases that were indicated pre tender.

 

The process of evaluating further will now begin, then final discussions with the winning bidder.

 

Once this is done, stage 2 notification letters will be sent out, informing the Leaseholders of annual premiums and giving them the opportunity to view the 5 responses.