Fire Safety Policy

The Council acknowledges and accepts its' responsibilities under the FSO (as amended by the The Fire Safety Act 2021 and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (opens new window) and the Building Safety Act 2022 (opens new window) as outlined in Section 5.

All FRAs are reviewed by a competent person to ensure they meet the requirements set out in the The Fire Safety Act 2021 and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (opens new window).

The local authority will meet the requirements of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and the Building Safety Act 2022 (opens new window) by providing tenants with the relevant fire safety information, undertaking fire door checks, and complying with the requirements for buildings above 11 metres and 18 metres in height.

Each property requiring an FRA will have one in place which has been carried out by a competent fire risk assessor, and which is compliant with the British Standards Institution's PAS 79-1:2020 and PAS 79-2:2020 specifications for non-residential and residential buildings respectively.

All FRAs will be reviewed no later than the review date set within the most recent FRA and in the event of:

• A fire, fire safety incident or near miss.
• Change in building use.
• Change in working practices that may affect fire safety.
• Following refurbishment works.
• Change in applicable legislation; or 
• If required following an independent fire safety audit.

The Council will operate robust processes to implement all general fire precaution measures identified by FRAs.

Fire evacuation strategies will be determined on a building-by-building basis, in accordance with the recommendations of the competent fire risk assessor and with any guidance from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

To comply with the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (amendment) Regulations 2022 (opens new window), the local authority will install, test and replace (as required) battery operated and/or hard-wired smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms as part of the annual fire safety check (or at void stage).  The Council will ensure all properties are fitted with the required smoke and carbon monoxide equipment.

We will ensure that all domestic properties have appropriate systems installed to meet the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (amendment) Regulations 2022 (opens new window) within a period of no longer than 18 months following the approval of this policy.

If the Council is made aware that a customer has an issue with mobility or a cognitive impairment, a person-centred fire risk assessment (PCFRA) will be completed.

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) will be carried out by a competent person, reviewed annually, and made available to Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service in the event of an evacuation, as follows:

• For any disabled tenants and/or employee within any building where the Council  provides care services and are the employer (i.e., sheltered or supported housing schemes); and
• For any tenant within a building where the local authority is responsibility for carrying out an FRA, where it has been notified that they are storing oxygen in their home for medical use.

Note: PEEPs are not carried out in high, mid, or low-rise residential accommodation due to lack of staffing provision. A Vulnerable Persons log will be kept for the FRS in the premises information box.

When letting properties, the local authority will consider the suitability of the accommodation for the prospective tenant in respect of fire safety. This is the function of Housing Management.

The Council is committed to working with Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service to create safer places to live and work. This joint working may include sharing information, having FRAs reviewed and staff training.

We will advise all new tenants of the opportunity to request a free home fire safety check, provided by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service. The Council will work in partnership with agencies to identify vulnerabilities and work together to resolve issues such as hoarding.

The Council will operate robust legal processes to gain access to properties where tenant vulnerabilities are known or identified, whilst ensuring it safeguards the wellbeing of the tenants.  We will refer any vulnerable persons to TWFRS for a Home Safety Check and the Council will carry out FRAs in communal areas in residential blocks.

The Council will operate robust legal processes to gain access should any tenant or leaseholder refuse access to carry out essential fire safety inspection and remediation works (as tested in the case Croydon Council v. Leaseholder 1st August 2014).

The Council will operate effective contract management arrangements with the contractors responsible for delivering the service, including ensuring contracts/service level agreements are in place, conducting client-led performance meetings, and ensuring that contractors' employee and public liability insurances are up to date on an annual basis.

The Council will operate a robust process to manage immediately dangerous situations identified during fire risk assessment and fire safety programmes.

The Council will adopt a managed approach in all internal common areas, requiring tenants to remove combustible materials from corridors and fire escape routes.

The Council will not permit the storage of mobility scooters, or the storage and charging of lithium-ion equipment within internal common areas.

To comply with the requirements of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (opens new window) (CDM) a Construction Phase Plan (CPP) will be in place for all repairs work to void and tenanted properties (at the start of the contract and reviewed annually thereafter), component replacement and refurbishment works.

To comply with the requirements of the The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002 (opens new window), the local authority will consider the safety of our workplaces and plant/boiler rooms of our residential blocks that fall within the scope of the legislation.

The Council will operate robust processes to record and action any property fires and fire safety related near misses. A near miss is an unplanned event which does not result in an injury but had the potential to do so.

The Council will ensure there is a robust process in place to investigate and manage all RIDDOR notifications made to the HSE in relation to fire safety and will take action to address any issues identified and lessons the Council has learned, to prevent a similar incident occurring again.

We will ensure there is a robust process in place to minimise any potential non-compliance by ensuring processes are effective and have appropriate control measures in place to mitigate any risks.  We will analyse any non-compliance that does occur and take action to prevent recurrence. For example, we will investigate and manage all RIDDOR notifications made to the HSE in relation to gas safety and take action to address any issues identified and lessons learned, to prevent a similar incident occurring again. This includes amending our processes to reflect best practice and ensure that service improvements are implemented.

The document will be strictly controlled in accordance with ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and maintained by the Service Manager Building Safety, in conjunction with the Quality Manager.