What is a fire risk assessment?
A Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) is a report and assessment of any significant fire hazards within a building. It also identifies the consequences to residents and others in the unlikely event of a fire.
The FRA provides a list of any work which will need to be done to reduce fire risks and the timetable for any such work.
We have a rolling programme of FRAs which we carry out across all tall tower blocks we manage. Every Newham Council managed tall tower block has a valid FRA. The council also receives FRAs carried out on the five Newham Council blocks managed by other organisations.
What’s covered by a FRA?
FRAs are legally required and cover only the communal areas of blocks. Some of the issues they take into account include the safety of exit routes, measures in place to stop or slow down the spread of a fire and any factors that could start, accelerate or spread a fire.
A FRA does not examine cladding or go inside individual flats. Furthermore, intensive checks are currently being carried out by us to investigate this.
An FRA will carry out the following:
- Identify any fire hazards using an industry standard checklist
- Identify how to stop or control any fire hazards
- Assess how likely a fire is to occur
- Determine fire protection measures in place
- Assess the likely consequences in the event of a fire
- Assess the fire risk
- Set out an action plan to deal with any issues which arise as a result of the FRA
- Set the date for when any identified works should be completed.
The action plan will show what works are required to improve fire safety and ensure residents are kept as safe as possible.
FRAs for tall tower blocks are reviewed every year or when significant works are carried out, whichever is sooner.
All residential tall tower blocks managed and owned by us have an up-to-date FRA.
