NEWS Nearly 25,000 homes still clad in ACM
ACCORDING TO the government’s latest update on the removal of aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding, almost 25,000 properties within high rises still have this combustible cladding. Building reported on the Home
Office’s update, which stated that a total of 324 UK buildings nationwide, including 98 high rise social housing blocks and 168 privately owned blocks, were still clad with ACM. The report commented that ‘yet to be remediated social sector residential buildings account for approximately 7,600 dwellings’, while ‘yet to be remediated private sector residential buildings account for approximately 13,400 to 17,200 dwellings’. This means, the news outlet
added, that ‘up to 24,800’ homes across England still have ACM cladding, over two years since the Grenfell Tower fire. Of the 98 social housing blocks, 81 have seen work begin, 16 have a replacement plan ‘but no work has taken place’, and in the one other case, the building’s owners ‘have stated their intention to deal with the issue’. Of the privately owned buildings meanwhile, 24 towers’ owners have said work has begun, while ‘plans are in place’ with no work begun on 76 buildings and
46 buildings’ owners ‘have reported an intent to carry out work and are drawing up plans’. For the remaining 22 towers, however, the plan for remediation works to remove and replace the cladding ‘is unclear’.
In the 14 months since July
2018, 181 privately owned high rise buildings were found to have ACM cladding, with work completed ‘on just 13’; while in the social sector, work has been finished on 60 of the 158 buildings with ACM. In further detail, the report noted that 33 of the 56 high rise student accommodation buildings found to have ACM cladding have seen work completed, while work has begun on six others and a ‘plan
is in place’ for 11 more. Another two building owners of affected student blocks have ‘reported an intent to remediate and are developing plans’, but the status of any plans for the remaining four towers ‘is unclear’. On hotels, only two of the 30 high rise buildings found to have ACM cladding have seen work completed, with ten having started work, and plans for eight more ‘are unclear’, with an extra building identified since the last government update. Finally, ten publicly owned
schools and health buildings have ACM cladding, with work completed on three and started on one other
Fire Door Safety Week returns for 2019
THE CAMPAIGN ran from 23 to 29 September, stressing the ‘life-saving role that fire doors play in protecting us while we sleep’. Run by the British Woodworking
Federation (BWF), its seventh year highlighted ‘the importance of fire doors and good fire safety practice’, specifically focusing on the ‘critical role’ played by doors in protecting people while they sleep, ‘particularly in specialised housing such as care homes, children’s homes and sheltered housing’ alongside houses in multiple occupation and communal properties. Research undertaken
with care home workers revealed fire safety ‘concerns’ as well as a ‘lack of clarity’ about fire doors’ ‘crucial role’. The campaign was supported by the Home Office’s National Fire Safety campaign, the National Fire Chiefs Council and London Fire Brigade. Helen Hewitt, BWF chief
executive, stated: ‘We all need to feel protected, and especially so when we are asleep. Fire doors play a vital role as the first line of defence against fire and smoke, containing their spread while buildings are evacuated. But they must be properly installed and
maintained, and good fire safety practice must be shared and followed. That’s why we continue to raise awareness every year through Fire Door Safety Week. ‘Good practice is especially
important in buildings with multiple occupants and residents who may be vulnerable. It is quite literally a matter of life and death. We encourage individuals and organisations to get involved this year, share our free resources and run their own publicity campaigns and events to support the campaign’s vitally important messages.’
www.frmjournal.com OCTOBER 2019 9
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
