One of the ways we help to keep you safe from fire is by carrying our Fire Risk Assessments (FRA).
An FRA is a detailed examination of the building and its occupation and use. The purpose of a FRA is to identify what the potential risks are, and then take necessary actions to keep you safe. As your landlord, it is our responsibility to guarantee that the buildings we own meet current fire safety standards.
Things that are considered during an FRA include:
- Escape routes (corridors and stairways) are free from stored items and other obstructions.
- The condition of internal doors, including flat entry doors, are up to standard.
- Riser cupboards are kept clear - Riser cupboards are cupboards located within the communal areas of block apartment buildings which contain cabling for the main services provided to the individual apartments.
- Holes made in walls for cables and pipes are properly sealed.
- Corridors and stairs can be protected from the effects of smoke providing a safe escape route.
- Provisions such as emergency shut off valves for gas and building information boxes (Gerda boxes) for firefighters are in good, working condition.
- There is adequate emergency lighting and signage to enable people to see their way out the building safely, and to aid the fire and rescue service if they have to attend.
- There is nothing on the outside of the building such as cladding and combustible materials on balconies, or close to the building like bins and rubbish, that could present a risk of fire to the building.
How often are FRAs completed?
We complete an FRA annually on all our buildings with internal communal areas. Where our buildings do not have internal communal areas, we carry out an FRA every 3 years.
What happens when an FRA is completed?
We work closely with independent specialist assessors to carry out inspections in all internal communal areas of our buildings. They then produce the FRA with all the information they have gathered and record any recommendations or actions for us to review first.
We then put in place an action plan to carry out the recommendations to make sure the building and your home are safe. FRAs are stored on a secure database that notifies our teams of any actions requiring their attention. These actions are prioritised according to the risks identified.
Can I see my buildings FRA?
Although recent government advice is to share our FRAs with customers, we want to make sure that we provide this information to you in the most clear and helpful way.
An FRA captures any issues at one moment in time. It is a very detailed and technically worded document, as its purpose is to provide information to the fire and rescue services and building control specialists. We’re committed to be more transparent, so we’re working on finding ways to share the content of our FRAs so that they’re helpful, reassuring and comprehensive for anyone.
In addition, we’ll be publishing more information related to the safety of your building and how you can contribute to ensuring you can help keep your home safe.