Issue - meetings

Report of the Corporate Director of Adults, Housing and Health. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Housing & Planning (Deputy Leader)

Declarations of interest for this item:

None

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approved the award to Bidder B of a contract, and associated expenditure, for the provision and replacement of fire rated flat entrance doors, communal doors and riser/service cupboard doors and passive fire safety & decoration works, within the Council’s residential housing stock as detailed within the programme schedule.

2.    Noted that approval shall be provisional subject to the second stage s20 Leasehold consultation process. The award decision will be implemented where no observations are received. Should observations be received, the award will not be implemented and the decision returned to Cabinet.

Reasons for decision

To comply with fire safety legislation, including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Building Safety Act 2022. To meet Building Regulations (Approved Document B) requirements which sets out the minimum standards for fire rated doors in specific areas of residential properties, which ensures compliance with British Standards for fire resistance for door sets.

Fire doors and associated building works are a critical part of passive fire protection in buildings; they help prevent and contain fire and smoke. By upgrading fire doors to comply with the current standards for certified installation of the door sets, and carrying out associated fire safety works, we will reduce the risk of fire spread, particularly in high-rise or multi-occupancy housing. We will implement this replacement programme, targeting doors installed during the original construction of the building or replaced during historic planned work that do not meet the required standards that have been updated since the Grenfell tragedy to improve resident safety.

Fire Risk Assessments and regular fire door inspections identify doors that require replacement with compliant door and allows us to prioritise those of greatest risk within our programme. When replacing the non-compliant fire doors in the Council’s residential buildings, we can review the Fire Risk Assessment which sets the overall risk rating of the building, which is then likely to be reduced.

Older fire doors lack test certification and evidence of compliance or traceability of performance standards. However, in lower rise buildings (below 18m in height) will be assessed by the Risk Assessor and may be considered as ‘notional’ 30-minute fire doors. This can be acceptable in certain situations, and such doors will therefore be a lower priority within the programme or replaced if appropriate, during our major works programme. Such doors may be assessed as acceptable under the following circumstances

·       Good Condition: They should be solid, heavy, and free from warping or significant gaps. 

·       Good Fit: There should be a close fit in the frame, with gaps not exceeding 4mm (excluding the gap at the bottom). 

·       Small Premises: They are often acceptable in small, non-domestic premises and small residential blocks below 18m and where the risk is considered to be low. 

·       Older Buildings: Where they meet the standards of their era and are suitable as long as the overall building risk is low. 

However, in high-rise, (above 18m) and buildings assessed as  ...  view the full decision text for item 327

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, and Deputy Leader of the Council introduced the report.

The Cabinet Member explained that the safety of residents was paramount when it came to providing safe, sustainable, stable, and affordable homes and that fire doors had to be fit for purpose and maintained to ensure that they operated correctly and provided protection to the communal areas in the event of a fire.

It was noted that the implementation of the proposed new contract for fire doors to flats, stairwells, corridors and cupboards, along with other passive fire safety works, ensured that residents could remain safely within their home or, if required, have a safe means of escape through communal corridors and stairwells to a place of safety outside. It also meant that Haringey could ensure that high standards for fire doors were consistent across its Council housing, as the new contract allowed for the provision of the same standard of door for all repair and major works contracts, even when carried out by different contractors.

In response to comments and questions from Councillors Cawley-Harrison, the following information was shared:

• It was explained that the cost to individual leaseholders would be dependent on the type of Fire Door which was required, and that leaseholders would be informed of any costs as part of the process.
  
  
• It was stressed that the Council needed to maintain a high standard for Fire Doors and that the Council was best equipped to ensure and procure these for sites. It was stressed that the Council’s priority was to ensure safety as the primary concern. It was explained that leaseholders could not have responsibility for installation and procurement of Fire Doors due to the responsibility of the Council to ensure the safety of the doors. It was additionally stressed that the Council needed to ensure quality standards, which often were some of the more expensive models, in order to meet regulatory standards.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approved the award to Bidder B of a contract, and associated expenditure, for the provision and replacement of fire rated flat entrance doors, communal doors and riser/service cupboard doors and passive fire safety & decoration works, within the Council’s residential housing stock as detailed within the programme schedule.

2.    Noted that approval shall be provisional subject to the second stage s20 Leasehold consultation process. The award decision will be implemented where no observations are received. Should observations be received, the award will not be implemented and the decision returned to Cabinet.

Reasons for decision

To comply with fire safety legislation, including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Building Safety Act 2022. To meet Building Regulations (Approved Document B) requirements which sets out the minimum standards for fire rated doors in specific areas of residential properties, which ensures compliance with British Standards for fire resistance for door sets.

Fire doors and associated building works are a critical part of passive fire protection in buildings; they help prevent and contain  ...  view the full minutes text for item 327