Our Health & Safety and Fire Protection Services

Our Clerk of Works are all individual members of the Association for Specialist Fire Protection (ASFP).

Bennington Greens Fire Stopping Inspectors have all completed courses which have been accredited and recognised by both the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM) and Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE).

The Fire Protection Clerk of Work service is delivered through quality assurance (QA), Quality Management Systems (QMS) and site inspections to confirm and verify that all the passive fire protection systems have been installed in accordance with the design and specification, at project completion.

Our primary objective is to ensure that all aspects of fire protection are built in accordance with design, standards and legislation, in order that life safety of those in occupied  buildings is ensured in the event of a fire.

We fully believe that the earlier the Clerk of Works is appointed, the better the outcomes will be at project completion. We can provide a valuable input in relation to the early design drawing and specification review and the  supply chain procurement process. If we are able to review design details at the earliest appropriate point in the programme, we can identify any areas of potential poor design or detailing from a fire protection perspective for further review by the design team. Similarly, our early engagement can assist with the procurement process by checking that the necessary QMS and QA  obligations are included within the supply chain packages.

It is vital that all of the supply chain with a fire protection responsibility are made fully aware of the QA and QMS obligations, the QA/QMS process and the simple hold-point procedures that need to be followed to comply with the requirements.  Hold points are necessary to ensure that the required checks are made at key points during the programme. If implemented correctly, these can be systematically introduced without causing any delay into the project programme. Hold points are generally undertaken as follows:-

Pre-screed.

Pre Dry Wall Close Up.

Pre Ceiling Close Up

Pre Architrave Fix

Fire Door Installation

Horizontal Fire Barriers (External Brickwork)

Since the Grenfell tragedy, much focus has been put upon the safety of installed cladding systems on buildings.

In late 2019, the RICS together with the Building Societies Association and the UK Finance trade association produced Form EWS1: External Wall Fire Review. The form is intended for recording in a consistent manner what assessment has been carried out for the external wall construction of residential apartment buildings where the highest floor is 18m or more above ground level or where specific concerns exist.

On 11 March 2020, the government announced in the Budget that it would provide an extra £1 billion in 2020 to 2021 to fund the removal and replacement of unsafe non-ACM cladding systems. These systems, such as high-pressure laminate, wood and other class C/D cladding have been installed on numerous high-rise residential buildings in both the private and social housing sectors. The extra funding is in addition to the £600 million which government has already made available to ensure the remediation of the highest risk Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding of the type that was in place on Grenfell Tower.

Bennington Green are able to provide professional inspection and assessment services to complete the EWS1 form. The service may be simply a desk-top exercise or if insufficient information is available, intrusive survey inspections may be required at site. Should the input of a specialist Chartered Fire Engineer be required, we are able to provide this additional service.

Grant funding will be made available by the government, to remediate buildings in both the social and private residential sectors of 18 metres in height, and over, that have such cladding systems. It is this combination of risks that experts, including Dame Judith Hackitt, have advised pose the greatest threat to public safety and should be remediated.

The government, via MHCLG, published a Process chart for assessing external wall systems. This can be downloaded here.

Bennington Green are able to provide the necessary project management services for a cladding remediation project, should the need arise.

Bennington Green are Certified Fire Door Inspectors.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRO) came into force in England & Wales on 1st October 2006. It applies to virtually all premises (other than people’s private homes) and covers every type of building, structure and open space. Compliance with the RRO is mandatory. Building owners or those responsible for a building have to appoint a ‘Responsible Person’ who must ensure that an annual fire risk assessment is undertaken.

Fire doors are a fundamental element of the passive fire protection systems in a building and it is vital that they have been installed correctly and inspected on a regular basis. Third Party inspections carried out by Bennington Green’s independent, competent, qualified inspectors provide building owners with the required level of verification.

In January 2020, the government, via MHCLG, published “Advice for Building Owners of Multi-storey, Multi-occupied Residential Buildings”. Appended to this document is “Annex A – Advice for Building Owners on assurance and assessment of flat entrance fire doors”. Both documents can be downloaded here.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 it is a requirement that the person who has control of premises, specifically named as the ‘Responsible Person’ MUST carry out a Fire Risk Assessment and keep it up to date.

The Fire Risk Assessments undertaken by Bennington Green by our qualified and experienced Assessors will discuss with you your building and its use, guide you through the management of risks and prepare a report containing the following information;

• Identification of responsible persons for fire safety
• General description of premises
• Fire safety systems and equipment
• Identification of persons at risk
• Means of escape assessment
• Specific fire hazards
• Emergency Action Plan
• Training
• Management of risks advice

Fire Risk Assessments are classified from Type 1 to Type 4, depending upon whether both the communal areas and flats are being included and whether or not the inspections are required to be of an intrusive nature. It is normally only necessary to consider the common parts however where a landlord has concern regarding risk to residents within their flats, the fire risk assessment may extend to the flats themselves. Intrusive fire risk assessments (involving destructive exposure) will only be necessary where there is justifiable concern regarding structural fire precautions and life-safety issues.

The HSE are tasked with policing the new CDM 2015 Regulations which are aimed at the improvement of health and safety in the construction industry.   We are able to undertake on-site audits and prepare reports to help minimise risks to operatives and visitors and reduce potential claims.  We always aim to work with Contractors and are pragmatic and practical about achieving a safe site.   If you are concerned that the health and safety on your site may need improving, please get in touch.

All projects now fall under the requirements of revised Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015. There are clear duties for all those involved in a project including the Client, Principal Designer, Designers, Principal Contractor, Contractors and their Subcontractors.

The CDM Regulations govern the way construction projects of all sizes and types are planned and managed, in the UK. This applies to all building and construction work and includes new build, demolition, refurbishment, extensions, conversions, repair and maintenance.

Organisations or individuals can undertake the role of more than one duty holder, provided they have the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to fulfil those roles in a way that secures health and safety.

Bennington Green are able to act as Principal Designer on our in-house designed projects or alternatively we can provide advice to any duty holder to assist them in meeting their duties.

For more information, please see Bennington Green’s CDM 2015 Guidance Note

Using our team of experienced health and safety professionals we are able to undertake audits of the health and safety procedures of external organisations. We offer advice and assistance in the improvement of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the relevant health and safety legislation.