Do you know how best to approach Fire Risk Assessments? This month we focus on Fire Safety with Paul Coster from William Martin (Compliance Solutions)

Hi Paul, give us a quick overview of William Martin.

William Martin Compliance Solutions started in 2005 and have grown into a leading Property Management H&S consultancy delivering support and advice in all areas of compliance within the Property Management sector, undertaking H&S, Fire Water and Asbestos assessments and surveys. We also provide what we feel is an enhanced fire drill service, one that allows real testing and learning of the procedures for the property. Our consultancy services are supported by Meridian, an award winning internally developed Compliance software management system.

In your experience where do people go wrong in their approach, or maybe have an incorrect understanding in their approach, to Fire Safety?

Fire safety management has been more heavily scrutinised after the tragic events at Grenfell, and the spotlight on the industry as a whole has intensified following Dane Judith Hacketts review and the on-going public enquiry. Aside from the regulatory matters and the debate over the suitability of Building Regulations I feel there needs to be a sharper focus on both the competency of the appointed fire risk assessor by the Client along with the understanding that actions arising from any FRA need to be addressed effectively. Compliance is more than just having a FRA completed, it includes the completing and close-out of the actions identified to make you compliant. Systems such as Meridian aid the FM’s ability to clearly demonstrate a positive culture towards fire safety management and will assist them in their overall management of fire safety within their portfolios.

In simple terms, if you were a property manager what would your approach be to Fire Safety to ensure that all important regulation was being covered and most importantly you were ensuring that your building was safe?

Good question, I would endeavour to look at the building as a whole. This is a topic of some debate but, if and where possible, I would seek to ensure that every aspect of fire safety between Landlord/Managing Agent and the tenants was covered. I would look to ensure that all parties who have a role to play in effective fire safety management are consulted and have an active involvement and would look to fully utilise opportunities such as the building fire drill to really test the procedures in place and glean what if anything needs improving. In addition I would look to instigate a regular training program, one that provides meaningful learning for those with a role to play in ensuring a building is safe along with what they need to do in the event of an emergency. Finally I would look to open my building up to visits from the local fire authority, engaging in a dialogue and welcoming them in to familiarise themselves with the property.

How can William Martin help?

We work with our Clients on an individual basis, agreeing the scope of any assessments we are providing for them, whether this will include tenants demise, inspection of fire doors, limitations, agreeing the priority levels of certain types of actions. Our consultants are all experienced in undertaking FRA’s and come with a property management background which allows them to provide pragmatic and realistic advice. The support we provide to our Clients goes beyond just the undertaking of an assessment, we provide ongoing support, support with action resolution and offer a comprehensive Account Management approach to assist in all fire and H&S matters.

Often once a Fire Survey has been completed the client is left with a long list of actions. How would you suggest that they approach this?

As mentioned above, ensuring you remain ‘compliant’ with fire safety legislation is more than ‘just’ having a fire risk assessment. Whist this is of course a requirement, compliance goes further than only having a document. Action management is a critical aspect of ensuring you remain compliant and is often an area where, due to a variety of reasons, progressing their resolution is delayed. Our FRA reports detail actions with a clear priority and a completion timeframe agreed with the Client, which assists in identifying the key risks in an order of importance. This in itself will allow the focus to be placed where it needs to be, providing the FM’s a structured ‘to do’ list and the ability of a Meridian user to update the action detail with notes as to its status, including providing information as to any delays or issues in getting the action completed.

Thank you Paul,any final thoughts?

Thank you Mark for the opportunity for highlighting the services that William Martin provide, we believe that our experience in the Property Management sector and the quality of our Consultants, supported by our Meridian software, offers a comprehensive solution to the FM industry in meeting the complex compliance requirements of the industry.

SPA has extensive experience of implementing actions post FRA reports – please call if you’d like to discuss 0208 744 2115

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