Kirsteen Roe ((Head of Partnerships & Engagement) gave a presentation (see attached). This item highlighted the actions Croydon Council has taken following the disastrous fire at Grenfell Tower in Kensington & Chelsea Borough on 13-14 June:
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To reassure residents of fire safety precautions
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2005 Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order - have to carry out regular fire safety inspections
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London Fire Brigade enforces the order and monitors how it is being carried out
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Carry out risk assessments for every building - specialist contractor (Frankhams) completes these
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88 blocks high risk - every year; 475 medium risk - every 2 years; 176 low risk - every 3 years
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Putting things outside doors (pot plants, bicycles, floor mats, buggies etc) pose a fire risk
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High rise - 6+ storeys - 39 in Croydon
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No blocks are above 12 storeys
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Cladding - 16 blocks have cladding:
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4 were clad by the same sub-contractor as Grenfell Tower
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Looked at original specifications to ensure what provided matched
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Looked at building control and planning records
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Surveyed each building with cladding by 23 June
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All made of cladding with mineral wool insulation; 3mm aluminium powder coated exterior - good fire retardant material with low fire risk
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Substantial programme over last 10 years to put in essential fire safety measures to be compliant with Regulatory Reform Order (fire safety) 2005
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Written to all residents in blocks - within one week - hand delivered letters
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Any repairs to do with fire safety get priority
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Double checks regularly
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Sprinklers - will install systems in 25 blocks
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Estimated start in autumn
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Prioritising tallest blocks first
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Working with LFB to ensure any fire safety precautions are updated as necessary
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Took action within 48 hours
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Within one week had number of actions
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Produced a planned programme of works arising from inspections
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Offered support to Kensington & Chelsea - response team worked closely with them over the last few weeks
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Published FAQs on the web
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Sheltered block resident session this week to answer any questions
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Planning special edition of Open House focusing on fire safety
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Working closely with London Fire Brigade
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Our processes are robust but can always review and make improvements
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Resident safety is a priority
The following concerns and comments were raised:
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Block of 4 floors - do not have dry rises etc - why only considering blocks under 12 floors for sprinklers?
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All blocks should have the same safety precautions.
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There should be notices about what to do.
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Not all residents in blocks received a letter.
Kirsteen Roe: Not all blocks have dry rises. Each building will have a separate risk assessment and will take the advice of the London Fire Brigade (LFB) which will determine for each building what is there. Regarding having fire safety leaflets - we will look into that idea. We do have signs in blocks and will check they are up to date.
Mark Meehan: It was a huge exercise - you should have received a letter. We will investigate.
Stephen Tate: There is a lot of information in Open House.
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There are no communal fire doors.
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Some doorways in blocks keep getting blocked.
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There should be a communal fire alarm.
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Block with 44 flats but only one staircase
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At Toldene Court (Coulsdon) there is an alarm test every day - lot of people are over 70 years old.
Kirsteen Roe: Fire doors should not be propped open. Blocked corridors - given recent events, caretakers will have to take a much harder line. Fire alarms - we will take advice from LFB. LFB updated their website and there is a lot of information. LFB do not want all buildings to have fire alarms.
Kirsteen Roe: In larger blocks, they are designed to have compartmentalised firewalls. We will await what comes out of the Grenfell recommendations. We will continue to take advice and update procedures and fire safety.
Mark Meehan: About doors being left open, blockages etc. - collectively we have to bring about behaviour changes in our residents. Any obstructions will be removed. The Fire Brigade will not leave buildings until all blockages removed. There cannot be anything to prevent people from escaping from a building. There will be zero tolerance for anyone causing an obstruction.
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Keeping of gardens - need to be kept trimmed so not a fire hazard.
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High rise - how many fire escapes are available?
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People ought to know the drills - doubtful if many in these blocks know what to do.
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Not seen anything about fire drills - need to incorporate in the programme
Kirsteen Roe: It is important to provide information and education. If additional requirements are needed for buildings, this will be looked at. LFB will look at evacuation planning for buildings and encourage anyone to invite LFB to visit.
Cllr Alison Butler: Thanks to all officers who all came in early and have done a huge amount of work to ensure all our blocks are safe. Staff worked over the weekend. We have shown that Croydon is a safe borough.
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More details are needed about sprinkler systems
Kirsteen Roe: We are working with the current contractors to plan the work - when we have got the level of detail, we will engage with residents and explain.
Marilyn Smithies reported that residents' feedback from the letters sent out will go in Your Croydon and Open House.