Building Safety
We're committed to keeping our homes and buildings safe for everyone who lives in them. Building safety covers the features, systems and measures that help protect residents in the event of a fire or other emergency.
On this page you'll find information about external wall systems, escape routes, flat front doors and building security. These measures play an important role in helping keep residents safe and ensuring our buildings remain compliant with current safety standards.
External Wall Safety and EWS1 Forms
The safety of our residents is our priority. We regularly assess and monitor our buildings to ensure they remain safe and compliant with current fire safety legislation.
What is an External Wall System?
An External Wall System (EWS) includes all the materials that make up the outside of a building, including:
- Cladding
- Insulation
- Balconies
- External attachments
- Fire barriers within the wall construction
These elements are assessed to understand how they may perform in the event of a fire.
How Gateway Assesses External Wall Safety
Gateway assesses external wall systems in line with current legislation and industry guidance.
Where required, we carry out a Fire Risk Appraisal of External Walls (FRAEW) using the PAS 9980 methodology. This specialist assessment helps us understand the risk of fire spreading through the external wall system and identify whether any action is needed.
This risk-based approach ensures buildings are assessed according to their actual level of risk and that any recommendations are proportionate and evidence-based.
What is an EWS1 Form?
An EWS1 form is a document sometimes requested by mortgage lenders when a flat is being bought, sold or remortgaged.
The form provides information about the fire safety of a building's external wall system. It applies to the building as a whole rather than an individual property.
Not all buildings require an EWS1 form, and the decision to request one rests with the mortgage lender.
Selling, Staircasing or Remortgaging Your Home
If you are selling, staircasing or remortgaging your home and have been asked to provide information about your building's external walls, please contact us: sales@gatewayhousing.org.uk.
We can advise what information is available for your building, including whether a FRAEW assessment or EWS1 form has been completed.
Our Commitment
We continue to assess, monitor and review our buildings to ensure they remain safe. Where action is required, we will take appropriate steps to manage risks and help keep residents safe.
Escape Routes and Evacuation Plans
In an emergency, knowing what to do and how to leave your building safely can save lives. It's important that all residents understand their building's evacuation arrangements and keep escape routes clear at all times.
Keep escape routes clear
Escape routes help residents leave a building safely and allow emergency services to gain access if needed.
Please make sure:
- Corridors, hallways and stairwells are kept clear
- Bulky items, bicycles, pushchairs and mobility equipment are not stored in communal escape routes
- Fire doors are not wedged open
- Doorways and exits remain unobstructed
Keeping escape routes clear is essential for everyone's safety.
Do you know your building's evacuation strategy?
If you live in a purpose-built block, your building will normally have either a:
- Stay Put strategy, where residents remain in their flat unless the fire is inside their home or instructed otherwise by the Fire Service
- Evacuation strategy, where residents leave the building when instructed to do so
The correct strategy for your building will be displayed on the Fire Action Notice located in your communal areas.
Fire Action Notices
Every building displays Fire Action Notices to explain what residents and visitors should do in the event of a fire.
These notices provide important information about:
- Your building's evacuation strategy
- What actions to take during an emergency
- How to leave the building safely if evacuation is required
Planning Ahead
It is a good idea to think about how you would respond in an emergency.
Consider:
- The quickest way out of your home
- An alternative route if your usual route is unavailable
- Where keys are kept
- How you would call for help if needed
If someone in your household has mobility difficulties or may need assistance in an emergency, please contact us so we can discuss what support may be available.
Flat Front Doors
Your flat front door plays an important role in protecting you, your neighbours and the building in the event of a fire. Fire doors are designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke, helping to protect escape routes and giving residents more time to get to safety.
Why are flat front doors important?
Flat entrance doors are specially designed fire doors that help prevent fire and smoke from spreading from one part of a building to another.
A fire door is made up of several important components, including:
- The door itself
- Hinges and handles
- Smoke seals
- Self-closing devices
- Any glazing or vision panels
All of these elements work together to help keep residents safe.
Self-closing doors save lives
Most flat front fire doors are fitted with self-closing devices that automatically close the door behind you.
This helps to:
- Slow the spread of fire and smoke
- Protect communal areas and escape routes
- Reduce the risk to neighbouring homes
- Support emergency services during an incident
Please do not wedge your front door open or interfere with the self-closing mechanism.
Annual fire door inspections
Gateway carries out regular inspections of flat front doors and self-closing devices to ensure they continue to perform as intended.
If we contact you to arrange an inspection, please help us by providing access to your property.
Thinking of replacing your front door?
Flat entrance doors are fire safety equipment and must meet specific standards.
If you are considering replacing your front door, you must obtain the appropriate permissions before any work is carried out.
Report a problem
If your front door does not close properly, the self-closer is faulty, or you have concerns about the condition of your door, please contact us.
Security and Flat Entrance Gates
Secure entrances help keep residents, visitors and buildings safe. By taking a few simple precautions, you can help protect your home and prevent unauthorised access to the building.
Keeping your building secure
Please help us maintain a safe and secure environment by:
- Ensuring communal entrance doors close properly behind you
- Not allowing unknown individuals to follow you into the building
- Making sure visitors use the entry system where provided
- Reporting any security concerns to Gateway as soon as possible
Flat entrance gates and security doors
Where fitted, entrance gates and security doors provide an additional layer of protection for residents and the building.
Please ensure that:
- Gates and doors are kept in good working order
- Locks and closing mechanisms are not tampered with
- Security features are not disabled or wedged open
- Access routes remain clear at all times
If you are considering replacing your gate or security door, you must obtain the appropriate permissions before any work is carried out.
Reporting faults
If you notice a fault with:
- A communal entrance door
- An entry phone system
- A security gate
- A lock or access control system
Please report it to us as soon as possible, so we can investigate and arrange any necessary repairs.
Our Commitment
We regularly inspect and maintain security features across our buildings and work to ensure residents feel safe in their homes and communal areas.
Need Further Advice?
If you have questions about building safety, fire safety measures within your building, or would like further information about any of the topics on this page, please contact Gateway Housing at: 020 8709 4300 or customerservices@gatewayhousing.org.uk.
