Whilst HMG have unfortunately rejected the key elements of the Grenfell enquiry review for PEEPS and disability planning for elderly and disabled residents in HRB sites the issues will not go away and HMG have been subject to widespread criticism over this and the questions still remain as to what is best to do to support persons within an HRB who either cannot self-evacuate or will need specific support if they need to get out.
As before the qualification for an HRB is basically ALL sleep-in sites and buildings with care and supported living that may be below the 11m threshold and where a site has a Dsear report.
Whilst outside of formal government guidance a decent FRA will offer some direction for persons in need within a specific building based on its age, size and layout and should include where necessary individual person assessments for those in the greatest need and these might include more robust fire door provision – sometimes with electric opening and closing plus potentially localised misting provision to create a safety cell for those with the most need.
As is the trend these days the other elephant in the room is the potential for the use and storage/charging of mobility scooters and the like which will have an impact, potentially a significant one on such planning depending on where these units are stored and charged, again a major part of the FRA and fire strategy planning.
The aim is to both reduce the risk inside and give adequate information to the emergency services who will attend and have to address the situation, this will include external signage to advise them of the presence of an emergency plan and on site and cloud-based documentation.
There will be logistical issues for the fire service based on their appreciation of the site’s specific issues, not all will have firefighters support, some will have had changes in status from stay-put to immediate and simultaneous evacuation which will have had implications for the stairways and their capacity.
The need for low level Wayfinder Guidance and Photoluminescence (now mandatory in ALL +11m residential buildings) will play a key part in the plan to aid firefighters.
Therefore when considering your planned support for an HRB site there will still be an expectation of the provision of adequate support for persons in-need and to meet the requirements of B5 ADB for the fire service to deliver such support.
I am happy to engage with you to discuss individual site issues so please feel free to reach out.
