Building Safety Cases
East Village Management Ltd (EVML) has not yet been asked to apply for a Building Assessment Certificate (BAC) by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) so we have yet to submit an associated Building Safety Case Report.
This report will demonstrate how fire and structural safety risks are being managed. This document is under constant review from the Building Safety Regulator. The report summarises the steps the Principal Accountable Person (in this case, EVML) has taken to identify, assess, remove, reduce and manage building safety risks.
Means of Escape
Escape route from the flats from upper floors is via a single staircase, which terminates at the front ground floor main exit door leading direct to fresh air. Means of escape from the external courtyard is via each individual blocks’ main stairwell. Escape from ground floor covered car park was available via a secondary exit route
AOV System
Automatic Opening Ventilation (AOV) is present in the escape route. The AOV system has been designed to operate as follows: Smoke shafts within each lobby area and an AOV at the head of the stairs.
Early Detection Alarms (EDAs)
We’re preparing to install an Early Detection Alarm (EDA) system into your building, which will replace the current waking watch patrol. The EDA is an extension to the existing fire alarm system and will provide a technology-based approach, detecting signs of fire earlier (e.g. heat rather than smoke) and means you’ll be alerted to a fire at the earliest possible opportunity.
The system we are planning to install will comprise of wireless heat detectors in each apartment and in communal areas, which all connect to a central hub.
Risks
External Walls
A full Fire Risk Appraisal of the External Walls (FRAEW) is available, and the summary for your building is below. If you’d like to see it in full or prefer a printed copy, please let us know. It highlights the following:
Balcony soffits
The soffits (the underside of the balcony) are made from a combustible material. We’ve a full remediation plan in place and we’ll begin this work once the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) approves our designs. At the same time, we will replace the decking with a fire-safe material. Your balcony is still safe to use, but please always follow fire safety rules (no smoking, barbecues, fire pits, lanterns, or fireworks on balconies).
Internal Work
Compartmentation (walls and lift shafts)
We’ve been assessing the internal walls, and the initial findings show the walls may not offer enough fire protection. This affects the corridors, lift shafts and some apartment walls. We’re well underway in planning the solution which will prevent smoke or fire spreading. Depending on the advice of our fire engineers, we’re planning to submit an application to the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), to approve the remediation plan. We’ll then appoint a contractor to complete this work.
Fire doors
Following a thorough investigation, we’ve found that most of the internal fire doors within your building do not meet fire safety standards. We’ll replace all affected doors and door frames as part of the internal work we’re carrying out. We’ll contact you in advance if your front door needs replacing.
Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW)
Understanding the summary FRAEW:
PAS 9980 includes five risk level outcomes as summarised below:
- Low: The rate and extent of fire spread via the external wall construction is within normal expectation and risk is sufficiently low that no remediation is required.
- Medium (Tolerable): Risk is heightened but is nevertheless considered to be tolerable. There is potential to accept the heightened risk (subject to periodic review) provided any risk-proportionate actions are undertaken. In some cases no action is advised.
- Medium (Uncertain): Risk might be heightened, but it is not possible to determine that the risk is so high as to require risk reduction or sufficiently low that it can be tolerated.
- Medium (Upper): Risk is heightened to an extent beyond that which can be tolerated and risk reduction is required.
- High: Risk is significantly heightened, and risk reduction (remediation or mitigation) is required.
