Health & Safety and Fire Protection
Testimonials
Your speed and efficiency was much appreciated.
Mr Gothard
I a very pleased with the service we have received from BG and the general roof upgrade, which was completed one week ahead of time. It was a pleasure to work with Jack who kept us well informed and sent regular paperwork and completion certificates, well done Jack.
David Miller
Your service has been very efficient and the valuation was delivered in the exact time scale you gave me.
Mr Harris
'Being London based, we relied upon the recommendation of a well known Bournemouth professional consultancy to select Bennington Green as our appointed Surveyors and Project Managers for the major refurbishment works to our apartment. This has proven to be an extremely good decision and we have been delighted with the excellent service, assistance, and support we have received during the course of the building works. It would be very remiss on our part not to also make specific reference to the major and much valued input of Robert Winkley, who has personally been responsible for handling the works on our behalf. We would compliment Robert's calm, considered and courteous approach, which,together with his great depth of knowledge, has both provided excellent solutions and ensured the satisfactory progress of the works. Bennington Green established an excellent ongoing relationship with the contractors whom they had recommended being appointed following their successful handling of the tendering process on our behalf. We would not hesitate to recommend Bennington Green when the opportunity arises.
Mr & Mrs Newman
I write on behalf of the Trustees to thank you for managing our hall roof replacement project so efficiently. We are extremely pleased that the project has been completed on time, especially given the present weather conditions, and on budget, very important for someone in my position of Church Treasurer! We have greatly appreciated your support and advice throughout.
Valerie Wells
Bennington Green have designed and implemented to our project brief which has provided us with exceptional teaching facilities with minimal disturbance to our operations”
Mr D Cowgill - https://www.avonbournetrust.org/
Thanks for all your help and input. Very valuable and worthwhile. You knew what we needed. Will not be forgotten.
Westcliff Estates
Bennington Green worked with the school to transform the student’s dining area. From the development of an innovative and eye catching design, the identification of quality builders and specialist suppliers, to ensuring the project was delivered on time and within budget, the service provided by Bennington Green was A1
Alan Poole - Tomlinscote School and Sixth Form College - www.tomlinscote.surrey.sch.uk
I recently employed Mr Terry to advise on and complete a planning application and produce visuals for my new business.I was extremely pleased with how the process was conducted, not only did I receive regular updates as to how the application was being managed but his knowledge and business links has aided a smooth transition to opening my tuition centre. Mr Terry is meticulous in how he works and will go above and beyond to ensure that the customer is happy with the results produced. I would highly recommend his service.
Marcia Grell - Kip McGrath Education centre Barking
Just a quick note to say that the quality of work delivered over the past three months has been excellent. I am a very happy customer.
John Small
Got Any Questions?
- Fire Protection Clerk of Works Services
- External Cladding and Form EWS1: External Wall Fire Review
- Fire Door Inspections
- Fire Risk Assessment
- Site Inspections
- CDM Advice
- Audits
The Building Safety Act imposes new obligations on all this involved with the design and delivery of a project. The new 'gateway' approval process aims to ensure the safety of certain high-rise residential buildings in England.
The Fire Protection Clerk of Work service fully meets the requirements of the gateway process and is delivered through quality assurance (QA) and Quality Management Systems (QMS). Site inspections are undertaken to confirm and verify that all the passive fire protection systems have been installed in accordance with the design and specification, at project completion. The objective is to prioritise life safety of those in occupied buildings in the event of a fire. By working closely with our clients and using the latest inspection software, we can ensure that the necessary golden thread of information is retained and readily retrievable at project completion.
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. Get in touch to discuss how Bennington Green can help you.
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, which can be found here.
Bennington Green are able to provide the necessary project management services for a cladding remediation project, should the need arise, get in touch to discuss how we can help.
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.
Get in touch to discuss how Bennington Green can help you.
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.
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.
Fire Risk Assessments for External Walls (FRAEW)
In the past, the external wall construction of blocks of flats was not routinely included in the fire risk assessments (FRAs) required under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the 'Fire Safety Order'). The Fire Safety Act 2021 has now established that external walls fall within the scope of the Fire Safety Order [19]. It follows, therefore, that any FRA of a multistorey, multi occupied residential building needs to include consideration of the potential for fire spread via the external walls of the building.
Bennington Green have experienced and qualified internally employed personnel to carry out the necessary surveys in line with the requirements of PAS 9980 which provides guidance on the risk of fire spread via external wall construction. It sets out a methodology to conduct and record fire risk appraisals of external walls. Get in touch to discuss how Bennington Green can help you.
The Health & Safety Executive (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. Get in touch to discuss how Bennington Green can help you.
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.
Get in touch to discuss how Bennington Green can help you.