How To Make Residents Feel Secure In A Block Of Flats

Security and safety are of paramount consideration in any communal residential building development such as apartment blocks and flats – there is a mandatory legal requirement for fire safety features and procedures to be in place to protect the occupants and the buildings themselves. The Fire Safety Regulations (England) 2022 Act has been introduced to provide stringent guidelines on the precautions and safety measures to be implemented. Here are some considerations with regards to providing that security and peace of mind for building occupants:

Fire Outbreaks

There can be any number of reasons for a fire outbreak, but the most common causes are from irresponsible behaviour – carelessly discarded cigarettes, overloaded electrical sockets and unextinguished candles are often the ignition point. It is essential that all electrical wiring in flats is checked and maintained at regular intervals by qualified professionals and that all common areas and storage rooms are kept clear from potentially flammable items.

Responsibility

The responsibility for security and safety in a block of flats is that of the building owners, landlords or appointed responsible person or manager. It is both a legal and moral obligation to ensure that all possible measures are in place to protect occupants against any fire outbreak within the building – this includes ensuring that fire risk assessments are performed, and any fire risks are eliminated or reduced as much as possible. All occupants must be fully informed of any escape plan, routes, and safe assembly point in the event of a fire outbreak.

Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms should be fitted in each flat or apartment and in all common areas of the building. It is the landlord’s responsibility to see that they are installed but the tenant’s responsibility to ensure that batteries are changed, and the alarms remain functional. The building should have an overall fire alarm system installed and be regularly tested and maintained.

Fire Doors

Having properly manufactured and tested fire doors installed is essential – in the event of a fire outbreak these commercial security doors will provide effective barriers against the heat, flame, and smoke generated by the fire outbreak for specific periods – an FD30 fire door will contain the fire for a minimum of 30 minutes, an FD60 fire door for 60 minutes and so on.

All fire doors MUST be kept shut for them to be effective and, as such, should be fitted with automatic door closers – they should NEVER be ‘propped open’ for easier access! These fire doors will buy valuable time for residents to safely evacuate the building, and to minimise damage to the building itself whilst waiting for the fire service to arrive to extinguish the fire.

Escape Plan And Routes

All identified escape routes from the building must be kept clear at all times and any fire door must be left unhindered by items in front of them – they must be clearly accessible at all times. These fire doors must be clearly labelled and be instantly recognisable to occupants evacuating the building.

Fire Risk Assessment

A thorough fire risk assessment must be performed and all stairwells, corridors, fire doors, exits and common areas clearly identified and checked. This assessment will examine and identify the building’s fire protection and that of the individual occupants.

When installing fire doors in your building you should consider consulting with a specialist commercial security door manufacturer – Enfield Doors are one of the most respected and established bespoke door manufacturers in the UK – their knowledgeable and professional staff can advise you on all aspects of security fire door safety for your building development.

Enfield Doors – for bespoke and commercial fire doors 

Enfield Doors, are an established bespoke door manufacturers in the UK trading for many years and manufacturing doors of all types to every environment across industry and the home. Their knowledgeable and experienced staff can advise you on all aspects of soundproof doors including manufacture, installation, maintenance and security. If you would like further information on our company, please contact us and we will respond as quickly as possible. We look forward to helping you.