2017 Review
After the Grenfell disaster, we called for a local review of fire safety in our buildings. Also, those owned by our partner Together Housing (THG) and more widely. The review was supported by THG and the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFS):
Since the review was published, with our partners we have:
- Appointed a Fire Safety Officer. They give advice, recommend on fire safety and carry out regular audits in our buildings. Concerns are followed up with remedial works where needed.
- Invested £250,000 to address fire and health & safety issues in our buildings.
- Installed sprinkler systems in children's homes/respite centres.
- Council staff and partners:
- Have fire safety training.
- Fire safety events have been held for care homes, supported living providers and schools.
- THG:
- Removed Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding from its apartment blocks across Calderdale.
- Replaced over 1,000 fire rated doors.
- Raised awareness with residents on how to carry out their own fire safety checks.
- WYFS:
- Carried out consultations with landlords about evacuation procedures for high-rise blocks.
- Work with THG to tackle hoarding by people, where it could be a fire risk.
2022 Review Update
Recommended in the update:
- Embed fire risk assessments into care assessments and planning.
- Provide sprinkler systems in all newly built schools and major extensions or refurbishments.
- Continue the rolling programme of assessments of all property used by the Council.
- Work with private landlords to improve fire safety in their premises.
- Make sure all new private rented lets have adequate smoke and carbon monoxide alarms fitted and working.
- Offer training to private landlords and letting agencies to help them understand their roles and responsibilities in maintaining fire safety.
- Discuss fire safety when the Council works with vulnerable people and make referrals to the fire service, if needed.
Updates since the 2022 review was published
Cabinet was informed of developments since 2022 in a report on 8th July 2024.
- Building Safety Act. Granted Royal Assent in April 2022.
- The Building Safety Act: secondary legislation (GOV.UK). This comprises of:
- Commencement regulations for various parts of the Building Safety Act 2022.
- Building Safety Regulations 2023-2024.
- Building Safety (Leaseholder Protections Regulations 2022).
- Higher Risk Building Regulations 2023. Defines higher risk residential buildings as being at least 18m high, of at least seven stories.
- Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022. This came into force on 1st October 2022 and requires that "A carbon monoxide alarm is equipped in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance." (This excludes gas cookers).
- Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022(GOV.UK). These regulations made it a requirement for persons responsible for high-rise blocks of flats to provide information to Fire and Rescue Services to assist them to plan and, if needed, provide, an effective response to fires.
- The Building (Restricted Activities and Functions) (England) Regulations 2023. Establishes the activities and functions that can only be undertaken by the Local Authority after taking advice from a Registered Building Inspector.
- The Building etc. (Amendment) Regulations 2023: circular 01/2023.
- A guide to making your small paying guest accommodation safe from fire (GOV.UK). Simple and practical advice for fire safety in small, short term lets.
- The Council now has a comprehensive fire safety data base which rates all the fire risk of all buildings in the Council estate.
- A new high specification standard for fire safety has been developed for new buildings.
- Fire sprinklers are to be installed on all buildings providing overnight accommodation when a major refurbishment is carried out.
Action in Calderdale by WYFS
- Increase in the number of Safe & Well home visits for the most vulnerable members of the community.
- Provide guidance on the safe charging of Lithium-ion batteries through:
- Lithium Batteries (WYFS).
- and the National Fire Chiefs Council campaign: Charge Safe (NFCC).
- The #BeMoorAware campaign by WYFS and Calderdale Council to alert the public to the risk of open fires on moorland. The Council has banned fires, barbeques and sky lanterns on Council owned land. WYFS have specialist wildfire equipment at stations in the Upper Valley and maintain a list of premises at risk. Specialist officers are mobilised to every wildfire incident. Wildfire Safety (WYFS).
- Run a campaign with Calderdale Community Safety Partnership to drive down false alarms by fitting stickers to alarms emphasising their role as “life savers” together with posters and targeted leafleting.
- A Site-Specific Risk Inspection programme, visiting higher risk commercial businesses to support fire safety and gain valuable information should an incident occur at these premises.
Action by THG since 2022
This is the main provider of social housing in Calderdale and have fifteen blocks over 18 metres.
They have:
- Carried out an audit on these blocks and continue regular inspection of blocks.
- Developed a building safety case for blocks of this type. No blocks have cladding of the type implicated in the Grenfell Fire.
- Put measures in place to improve signage, fire alarms, fire fighting equipment and fire doors. Also, sprinkler systems have been installed in seven blocks.
- Developed leaflets and an animation on fire safety in blocks over 18m high and hand delivered them to all residents of blocks.
Action on private housing since 2022
The Council and the WYFS continue to provide advice to private housing providers, enforcing standards where needed.
This includes:
- Safe and wellbeing checks of vulnerable residents and high-risk property with the WYFS.
- Risk assessments and guidance for fire safety produced for supported living providers.
- Inspection of Asylum Hostels by WYFS.
- Ongoing inspection, guidance and enforcement of fire safety standards in the private rented sector including action days to look at fire risk in HMOs.
Future Action
- Continue to ensure the safety of THG tenants particularly taller residential blocks. This includes fitting of sprinkler systems and promoting fire safety in cooperation with the WYFS.
- Streamline advice to developers on fire safety.
- Develop a policy on lithium-ion batteries in CMBC premises.
- Provide fire safety advice to private landlords and tenants at the start of winter 2024/25 to tackle the fire risk represented by fuel poverty.
- Provide more support to private landlords and tenants to ensure premises are safe.
- Joint working with WYFS targeting residential properties above commercial premises, in particular, high risk commercial premises, such as takeaways.