London Borough of Southwark

Following new legislation in 2006 the local council undertook the responsibility to carry out fire risk assessments on all high rise blocks.

The resulting FRA’s highlighted that in every high rise block the bathroom extract systems had never been cleaned. The subsequent build-up of dust within these systems was highlighted as a ‘Substantial’ risk, and stated as ‘a potential fuel for fire to spread throughout the ventilation and into other areas of the building’.

Following independent surveys DCUK FM were commissioned to re-survey 10% of the high rise housing stock. The resulting surveys concurred with the FRA’s statements but also highlighted problems associated with fans not working due to a lack of maintenance on many of the blocks.

The cleaning work included cleaning all the system from each flat through to the risers, including the fans and discharge sections. Doors were installed where required, fans refurbished, motors and fan belts replaced.

All the above information has been electronically recorded in our VMP (Ventilation Management Programme), the council engineers each have a unique log in and password which enables them to view any block’s system, which includes; system descriptions, pre and post digital images, CCTV footage, shunt system information and hygiene certificate.

Summary of works:

• DCUK FM also detailed where fire dampers and fire seals were present and in accordance with BS 5588-9:1999 detailed where the bathroom extracts employed a shunt system.

• The contract involved working closely with the council tenant liaison officers, introducing DCUK FM to every tenant in person, over 20,000 doors to be knocked on. Each flat had to have the occupant’s ethnic beliefs, age of tenant, disabilities and other occupants including children, to be taken into consideration prior to carrying out the works.

• We provide a platform for transformation to a “right first, time every time” service delivered by people who “care for customers in their homes”, through a structured and measured approach to continuous improvement.

• CCTV recorded on every flat’s system, single line drawings produced and each tenant to sign a customer sign off sheet to highlight their level of satisfaction with our service.