We carry out regular fire risk assessments of all the buildings we own. These allow us to identify and resolve any fire safety risks and put preventative safety measures in place:

• Fire risk assessments for buildings over 18m are conducted annually;

• Fire risk assessments for buildings under 18m are conducted every one, two or three years depending on a number of factors such as the use of the building, height of the building, number of homes, travel distance to stairs and number of staircases in the block.

Estate inspections are used to monitor the upkeep and condition of our estates (including those maintained via a managing agent) and to identify issues such as repairs and maintenance, health and safety and environmental issues. They also help to assess the quality of estate services, including cleaning and grounds maintenance while ensuring value for money.

We complete monthly estate inspections and the form includes a checklist of basic fire safety and health and safety precautions, which will be completed on every estate inspection. 

• Emergency lights are tested monthly and serviced every three months 
• Automatic Smoke Vents (AOV) are serviced every six months
• Fire alarm panels are serviced every three months
• Fire extinguishers and blankets are checked annually
• Sprinkler systems are serviced annually
• Standalone equipment is tested annually
• Some fire alarm systems are tested weekly and serviced every three months

 A Fire Action Plan is displayed in the communal areas of your building and will clearly tell you whether your fire safety strategy is ‘stay put’ or ‘immediate evacuation’. This will differ from building to building because some are designed with fire stopping measures, making it safer to stay in your apartment, while others are not.

Fire doors play a critical role in keeping fire and smoke contained in one room so they don't spread throughout a building. Everyone plays their part in ensuring a fire door performs as it should in the event of a fire, from the door manufacturer and our fire safety team through to everyone who lives in the building.

Knowing what to look out for and what to do if you spot a problem might just save a life. Click here to find out more.