Building and Fire Safety
We have fire safety controls in place as to provide safe homes is our priority
Gateway has a fire safety policy to ensure compliance with legislation and good practice guidance. Your home has regular independent Fire Risk Assessments, and actions identified are promptly actioned. We work with the Fire Service to ensure we have implemented procedures so our residents can safely evacuate our properties if required. To learn more about fire and building safety and what to do to protect yourself and your family, please see our fire safety pages in the drop-down menu. Please also ensure you are familiar with the Fire Safety Notice for your building, located in your lobbies and communal areas.
There are currenty six main pieces of legislation applicable to fire and building fire safety in residential buildings, detailed below. Building regulations help to ensure that new buildings, conversions, renovations and extensions (domestic or commercial) will be safe, healthy and high-performing. Detailed regulations cover specific topics, including structural integrity, fire protection, accessibility, energy performance, acoustic performance, protection against falls, and electrical and gas safety. They also lay standards for drains, ventilation, protection against the ingress of water and protection against contamination, including methane and radon gas.
See further information on building regulations from Local Authority Building Control here.
External Wall Surveys (EWS)
Buildings are affected by legislation covering external walls through an External Wall Survey (EWS) as reflected in the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2021. Gateway are now planning on carrying out building assessments and progress on matters being resolved.
For further information on the EWS inspection process please see the below:
- Why do you need to inspect my building?
- Is My Building Included?
- What is a EWS Assessment?
- What type of Building needs to have EWS1 forms?
- What is the EWS process?
- Will I receive a copy of the survey?
- Who can I speak to about any queries?
- Who will carry out the RAGS Assessment?
- Do I need to provide access to my flat?
- How does this affect selling/ staircasing/remortgage my flat?
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Why do you need to inspect my building?
Since the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower in 2017, the government has amended the building safety guidelines by issuing a series of advice notes and processes for building owners.
In order to comply and pass the safety standards we need to ensure that all building safety guidelines as outlined in the Ministry of Housing and Local Communities advice notes are fulfilled. Gateway Housing will be following through on a staged program of Desktop Surveys, recommended Intrusive surveys and follow up remedial works if necessary, to the external wall and structures of buildings and the materials being non-combustible.
The following link gives a clearer explanation on why and in which circumstances lenders require an EWS1 form to be completed before a sale can complete.
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/the-external-wall-fire-review-process-ews/
- Building Safety