Building Safety Update: October 2024
This Building Safety Update is from October 2024. You can download a PDF copy of the printed version of this update by tapping below:
Building Safety Update - October 2024 [pdf] 263KB
Building Safety Update - October 2024
This Building Safety Update from October 2024 covers:
- Quick update on our commitment to building safety for customers living in flats
- A reminder on emergency escape rescue plans
- Fire door checks
- Access for fire door inspections
- Fire risk assessments
- Future works
- Get involved and let us hear your voice: join our Resident Building Safety Panel
A printed leaflet containing this information will be sent to residents shortly.
Quick update on our commitment to building safety for customers living in flats
Recent fires in some high rise buildings in London and the final report from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry have highlighted the critical importance of fire and building safety. We want to reassure you that we’re dedicated to ensuring customers’ safety at home. Please read on for details.
Our thoughts remain with the victims, survivors, the wider Grenfell community, and all those affected by the tragedy.
The findings of the Grenfell Inquiry emphasise the need for accountability, transparency, and for customers’ voices to be heard. Building safety is one of our top priorities. Since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, we’ve been raising safety standards within our properties, working with partners and other housing providers across Greater Manchester. We’ve also been implementing the reforms in the new Building Safety Act, Fire Safety (England) Regulations, and the Social Housing Regulation Act.
We recognise that building safety is a journey of continuous improvement. We remain committed to working with the Fire and Rescue Service, our partners, the Government, fire safety experts, and of course our customers, to help ensure you’re safe and feel safe in your homes.
You can find out more about our commitment to building safety and some of the safety measures we’ve implemented, on the Building Safety Hub section of our website at: www.boltonathome.org.uk/building-safety.
A reminder on emergency escape rescue plans
Please note: if you would need help to evacuate in the event of a fire, you must tell us. This could be because of a disability, a sensory impairment or if you have reduced mobility.
If you feel that you would need assistance, please phone us on 01204 328000 or email us at buildingsafety@boltonathome.org.uk.
Fire door checks
Since January 2022, changes to fire regulations mean that we have a legal duty to inspect your flat entrance door every year on any flats in properties above 11 metres in height or five stories and above. During these inspections, we’ll check:
- For any damage to the door’s glazing or air transfer grille.
- That the door closer shuts the door.
- That the door closes correctly around the whole frame.
- For any gaps around the door frame, seals, and hinges.
- For any visible damage.
We also check all the communal fire doors, such as bin chute rooms, storage cupboards, and cross corridor/landing doors, every three months.
In buildings under this height, while we’ve no set intervals to inspect these buildings, we still check them regularly, including during visits for other purposes.
If you’d like to see our steps for checking a Fire Door will do its job properly in the event of a fire, please visit: www.boltonathome.org.uk/fire-doors.
If you think something’s wrong, please report any suspected faults to us by calling 01204 328000 or emailing buildingsafety@boltonathome.org.uk.
Access for fire door inspections
For your health and safety, it’s essential to allow access for fire door inspections.
We’ll contact you by letter before inspections take place. If you’re not at home when we call, we’ll leave a calling card, with contact numbers for you to arrange a convenient time for the inspection.
By not allowing access for essential health and safety inspections, you may be in breach of your tenancy and, more importantly, placing your safety and your neighbours’ safety at risk.
Fire risk assessments
Every year, we carry out a fire risk assessment in your building to ensure we’re doing everything possible to safely maintain and manage your building in regard to fire safety.
A copy of the outcomes and actions of the fire risk assessment will be displayed on your noticeboard and at: www.boltonathome.org.uk/building-safety-case-information (just select your building from the list).
If you wish to see a full version of the fire risk assessment, please contact our Building Safety Team for a copy. Email buildingsafety@boltonathome.org.uk or phone our Contact Centre on 01204 328000.
Future works
We continuously review the building safety and structure of your building. We’ll notify you of any future repairs and maintenance schemes as and when they occur.
If in the meantime, if you identify anything that you feel we may have missed, please phone us on 01204 328000 to report it.
Get involved and let us hear your voice: join our Resident Building Safety Panel
If you live in one of our high-rise buildings*, you can earn shopping vouchers by joining us and your neighbours in making sure your building is as safe and accessible as possible. Join our Resident Building Safety Panel today.
*Our current high-rise buildings are:
- Rainford House, Haydock Street, Bolton, BL1 2NQ
- Blackshaw House, Deane, Bolton, BL3 5NU
- Rogerstead House, Deane, Bolton, BL3 5NX
- Fernstead House, Deane, Bolton, BL3 5NT
- Arundel Court, Beadham Drive, Blackley, M9 0GY
As a member of our Resident Building Safety Panel, you’ll be able to:
- Review building safety information and resident feedback on a quarterly basis.
- Examine general safety-related performance information and resident feedback to ensure standards are being met.
- Challenge us if you think we’ve fallen short and ask to see evidence of how we’ve put things right.
- Raise any concerns about the safety of residents living in high rise buildings and ask to see evidence of how we’ve addressed them. If you're not a member of the panel, you can still tell us if you're concerned about something by emailing buildingsafety@boltonathome.org.uk , or phoning our Contact Centre on 01204 328000.
- Monitor the delivery of any planned building safety-related communications or engagement activities.
We'll involve you in our decision making through surveys, direct mail, face-to-face events at your building, reviews of our policies/documents, and more as the Resident Building Safety Panel grows and develops. We’ll also provide you with an overview of any planned work that will contribute to the safety of our buildings.
As a panel member, we'll provide you with training opportunities to enhance your fire and building safety knowledge. You should gain valuable experience by joining this panel. We can provide IT training (or any other support relevant to your role on the panel), and we can provide information in whichever format suits your personal accessibility needs, including if you don't have regular access to the internet.
Watch this space for future updates and further details on how we’re investing in building safety. Thank you.