On 16 December 2019, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), The Building Societies Association (BSA) and UK Finance agreed a new industry-wide process to help ensure a consistent approach to the fire safety assessment of external walls in buildings.
The process seeks to address these issues by requiring that an appropriate investigation has been carried out by a competent person to ensure that the risk of fire spread over or within the external surfaces is acceptably low.
This investigation is not carried out by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service or any other fire and rescue service.
Remediation Work – What you need to know
Living in a building with unsafe cladding or other building safety issues can be concerning. If your building is undergoing remediation work, or waiting for work to begin, please read the fire safety guidance below.
In an emergency
Know your escape plan
Your building will follow one of the following fire safety strategies:
- Stay put – You remain inside your flat with doors and windows closed unless the fire is in your home. Buildings using this strategy are designed to slow the spread of fire, giving firefighters time to respond.
- Simultaneous evacuation – Everyone leaves the building when the fire alarm sounds and goes to a pre‑agreed assembly point. These buildings have a communal fire alarm system.
Your landlord or Responsible Person can confirm which plan applies to your building. It should also be displayed on fire action notices near exits and alarm points.
If remediation work begins, your escape plan may change. Your landlord, management agent or Responsible Person will keep you updated. Please check notices and communications regularly.
If you need help to evacuate, speak to your landlord, management agent or Responsible Person. They should work with you to develop a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP).
Temporary safety measures
While you are waiting for remediation work to start, additional safety measures may be in place, such as:
- Additional fire alarm systems
- Waking watch arrangements (trained staff patrolling the building 24/7 to identify fires early and assist with evacuation)
- Evacuation management, including resident communication, fire drills and on‑site support during emergencies
The measures in place will depend on your building and residents’ needs. Your landlord, management agent or Responsible Person can explain what applies in your building.
Reducing fire risk at home
You can help keep yourself and your neighbours safe by:
- Ensuring smoke alarms are working and testing them monthly
- Keeping balconies clear and not using barbecues
- Never throwing cigarettes or smoking materials from windows or balconies – this is particularly dangerous during remediation work
- Reporting any blocked vents or safety concerns during building work to your landlord, management agent or Responsible Person
Raising concerns
If you are worried that current safety measures are not sufficient, raise this with your landlord, management agent or Responsible Person.
If you still have concerns, you can report any serious and urgent fire safety issues to us here.
Further support
If you have questions about remediation work that are not related to fire safety, the following guidance may help:
- Supporting residents affected by cladding and other building‑safety issues – Local Government Association advice on costs, leaseholder concerns and selling your flat:
https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/supporting-residents-who-have-been-affected-cladding-and-other-building-safety-issues - Code of Practice for the remediation of residential buildings – GOV.UK guidance on ensuring remediation work causes minimal disruption to residents:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-practice-for-the-remediation-of-residential-buildings/code-of-practice-for-the-remediation-of-residential-buildings - Cladding and other fire safety works – information for residents – GOV.UK advice on leaseholder protections, mortgages and insurance:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cladding-and-other-fire-safety-works-information-for-residents - Further information – https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/the-external-wall-fire-review-process-ews/
- Frequently asked questions – https://www.rics.org/uk/news-insight/latest-news/fire-safety/cladding-qa/