Fire risk assessments
What is a fire risk assessment?
These fire risk assessments (FRAs) involve visiting the building and assessing various aspects of fire safety, possible sources of fire and checking that escape routes are unobstructed and free of combustible materials. FRAs are required to cover the communal areas in a block and not the inside of each individual property.
The position in Southwark
We are London's largest social landlord, with over 50,000 properties and over 300 high-rise blocks, and we take our responsibilities seriously. Current responsibility to conduct FRAs on blocks, arose following new legislation in 2006 and lies with the local council.
Southwark Council has a fire risk assessment for every building that needs one. But Southwark has also completed a programme of intrusive inspections on all its high rises. These involve looking at the fabric of the building, under ceilings and behind walls if necessary.
Following the inspections, works are commissioned to address any risks. In 2009/10 the council allocated £4 million for fire safety works that resulted from these checks. It has now put aside a further £5 million a year for the next three years.
Who carries out fire risk assessments?
Inspections of buildings of seven storeys and above are done by external fire safety experts. Inspections of buildings of five or six storeys are done by the council fire safety team. Inspections of buildings of four stories and below are done by trained housing officers.
What happens to a fire risk assessment?
It will be updated and reviewed as part of our programme of inspections. Where a report identifies key actions in order to reduce the risk to residents these are carried out. We are prioritising this important work and details of the progress we are making at the date of publication are either attached at the back of this document or incorporated within the document.
