Smoke & Fire Protection Feature


Safety & Regulation A proactive approach to fire safety


The Regulator of Social Housing’s third temporary monthly survey found challenges around gaining physical access to properties across the UK due to the risks posed by the Coronavirus pandemic. Here, Nick Rutter of FireAngel explores what connected and cost-effective fire safety solutions can do to help


level of risk each resident / property now poses, particularly in regards to fire safety. Since March, the ability for contractors to gain access to a property to


A


conduct necessary maintenance checks and repairs significantly reduced for a number of months, as many vulnerable and elderly residents shielded from the virus and refused other individuals from entering their home. As contractors now work to overcome the backlog of repairs and complete a


build-up of necessary maintenance checks, concerns are focused on ensuring the safety and wellbeing of both themselves and residents to mitigate any potential spread of the virus. This is combined with the ever-present threat of the rate of infection rising,


which would once again place an immediate and substantial halt on essential maintenance due to the inability for contractors to gain physical access to a property and potentially increase the fire risk level for some residents. So, how can social housing providers think ahead to overcome access and


maintenance issues, successfully future proof installations, and gain understanding of the levels of fire risk within their portfolio? In short, remote real time monitoring.


REAL TIME MONITORING Remote monitoring capabilities are not only offering a wide range of benefits for existing social housing portfolios, they are also transforming the future of fire


s essential works continue to recommence following over four months of disruption to usual management strategies and activities, social housing providers are faced with the challenge of understanding the


Remote monitoring capabilities are not only offering a wide range of benefits for existing social housing portfolios, they are also transforming the future of fire safety and paving the way for a new generation of social housing digital developments that place IoT at the core of their construction


safety and paving the way for a new generation of social housing digital developments that place IoT at the core of their construction. The activation of a connected cloud-based gateway allows instant remote real


time monitoring of Smart RF smoke, heat, and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, enabling social housing providers to achieve full traceability, audit, and compliance management across an entire housing portfolio by simplifying the monitoring of alarm networks across every property. Through some connected systems, providers can further future proof and


enhance their fire and CO protection by receiving an overview of fire risk across the entire property portfolio to help pinpoint increasing risk levels and enhance overall efficiency. This subsequently supports a long-term reduction in overheads as assets are applied in the most efficient way.


www.housingmmonline.co.uk | HMM October/November 2020 | 43


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