Fire safety

We have carried out our own checks and confirmed with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) that the council has not used any of the Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding panels of the type used at Grenfell Towers on our buildings.

The product that we use as part of our External Wall Insulation (EWI) system in 11 tower blocks (Dumbleton Towers, Meredith Towers, Hightown Towers, Albion Towers, Shirley Towers, Sturminster House, Havre Towers, Hampton Towers, Rotterdam Towers, Oslo Towers and Copenhagen Towers) is called Rockwool and is non-combustible. This is considered to be a safe, standard, robust system that is fully certified. This is directly fixed to the structure of the building and before a fire resistant render is applied to the surface.

The council has received assurance from the manufacturer and installer of the EWI system that it is safe and non-combustible. Full fire risk assessments were carried out prior to installation. EWI is not cladding.

External wall insulation (EWI) is a system consisting of high-performance insulation which is fitted directly to the external walls of our tower blocks that not only insulates, but protects the exterior with an attractive, smooth rendered finish in a colour selected by residents. EWI improves the thermal efficiency of the buildings, by wrapping them in insulation, thus reducing the heat loss and saving energy to heat homes.

The product that we use in 11 tower blocks (Dumbleton Towers, Meredith Towers, Hightown Towers, Albion Towers, Shirley Towers, Sturminster House, Havre Towers, Hampton Towers, Rotterdam Towers, Oslo Towers and Copenhagen Towers) is called Rockwool and is non-combustible. External Wall Insulation is not cladding.

The council reviewed the render-based system used on our tower blocks during the week of 19 June for the government review, and none were found to have cladding of the same, or similar, type to that used at Grenfell Towers. There was, therefore, no need to carry out further tests and the government has only requested testing of samples from local authorities who were found to have cladding of the same or similar type to that used at Grenfell Towers. The external wall insulation system on our high rise tower blocks is categorised as ‘non-combustible.’

Following the tragic incident at Grenfell Towers, we shared a letter about fire safety with tenants and leaseholders in our tower blocks.

At that time, our Block Reps and Tenant Participation Team also organised a series of local information sessions for residents, where we answered questions from some of you. We encourage tenants to continue to share their questions about fire safety in council housing with us on firesafety.works@southampton.gov.uk

All of our tower blocks have up-to-date Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs). We have reviewed these and have undertaken a series of inspections with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service to ensure our safety measures and procedures are appropriate.

The ‘Stay Put’ policy remains the best one in case of a fire in your building– if the fire is in your own, or an immediate neighbour’s flat, get out, shut your front door and phone the fire service. If the fire is in another flat then stay put, close your windows and doors; if you need to leave the building, then the emergency services will tell you what you have to do.

The council has profiled its premises into four categories: A-D. Category A premises are High profile - defined as Unfamiliar Sleeping Accommodation, High Rise and complex Buildings. Our independent fire safety assessor--3SFire Ltd--does annual reviews of our high rise blocks. They undertake a full Fire Risk Assessment of Category ‘A’ premises every four years. Assessors carry out base-line reviews, annually, on each of the other three years.

The following fire safety checks are carried out in our all of our tower blocks:

• Dry risers tested / checked every six months
• Fire alarms tested / serviced every six months
• Emergency lighting checked monthly
• Wardens also carry out additional regular checks of various fire safety control measures e.g. emergency lighting / fire doors / escape routes (in corridors / stairwells). These checks are recorded.
• Fire safety information is regularly included in Tenants' Link, the online tenants’ publication (Sign up for Tenants' Link)
• Housing works closely with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, including involvement in major projects like planned sprinkler installation
  

In the event of a fire, lifts should not be used. If your lift is not working, please report it immediately to our Repairs Service on 023 8083 3006 or on our report a repair page.

The ‘Stay Put’ policy is also the best one for a fire in a low-rise building – if the fire is in your own, or a neighbour’s flat, get out, shut your front door and phone the fire service. If the fire is in another flat then stay put, close your windows and doors; if you need to leave the building, then the emergency services will tell you what you have to do.

Our regular Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) should identify where additional signage is required. The FRA looks to assess the risks associated with the building in the event of a fire and identify suitable measures to address these. Measures introduced are therefore specific to the block and situation present, not a generic solution to be applied across all housing stock.

Emergency fire exits cannot be opened from the outside and have a simple push bar to open on the inside. In the event of a fire, the automatic entrance door is overridden and these doors are open.

The following tower blocks have one evacuation stairwell: Canberra Towers, Millbrook Towers, Redbridge Towers, Albion Towers, Shirley Towers, Sturminster House, Castle House, St James House, Canute House and Holyrood House. These blocks only have one stairwell as that was the original design which met the requirements at the time of construction.

The ‘Stay Put’ policy is the best one in the event of fire in your building – if the fire is in your own, or a neighbour’s flat, get out, shut your front door and phone the Fire Service. If the fire is in another flat then stay put, close your windows and doors; if you need to leave the building, then the Emergency Services will tell you what you have to do. The design of the blocks is such that flats are designed to stop fire spreading.

The fire service need to gain access to the building as quickly as they can to extinguish any fire – a fire alarm would mean that everyone would evacuate simultaneously, potentially impeding the Fire Service access as well as creating a hazard for those exiting the building.

We have the Stay Put policy as this is the safest for residents – if the fire is in your own, or a neighbour’s flat, get out, shut your front door and phone the fire service. If the fire is in another flat then stay put, close your windows and doors, if you need to leave the building then the emergency services will tell you what you have to do.

The council has been working closely with the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, specialist fire safety consultant 3SFire, and our specialist installation contractors, on a timetable for installing sprinkler systems in tower blocks to make them even safer.

Work started on the first phase of sprinkler installation in three towers – Shirley Towers, Sturminster House and Albion Towers -- last summer and work on the second phase -- Redbridge, Canberra and Millbrook Towers -- started in the autumn. We expect to be announcing the next buildings to be fitted shortly.

These systems require specialist design and installation so the council has been working closely with the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, specialist fire safety consultant 3SFire, and our specialist installation contractors, on a programme for installing sprinkler systems in tower blocks to make them even safer.

Albion Towers, Shirley Towers and Sturminster House were prioritised for installation of the sprinkler systems because of their design and work started on installation at these three tower blocks last summer. Work on the second phase -- Redbridge, Canberra and Millbrook Towers -- started in the autumn.

No. The structure of our tower block flats is designed to afford a high level of protection in the event of a fire and to contain the fire in the flat where it started, long enough for the fire brigade to attend and take action; however, the windows are not designed to contain fire.

The External Wall Insulation (EWI) systems present on our tower blocks are non-combustible mineral-based materials with a concrete render and have a high level of fire protection to minimise the spread of fire.

Twelve of our tower blocks have gas supply. The safe installation and maintenance of gas supply in any building is something that we and the gas distribution networks treat with the utmost of seriousness, ensuring that they are compliant with all relevant technical and safety regulations to maintain public safety.

The safety performance of gas supply companies is closely monitored by the energy regulator OFGEM and the Health and Safety Executive. We also carry out our own annual checks.

Network gas risers—external and internal—and associated lateral pipework in our buildings are owned by the Gas Distribution Network (GDN), installed in accordance with Industry Legislation and Standards, and inspected and maintained at regular intervals by GDN, in accordance with Industry Legislation and Standards as well as internal Company Management Procedures.

We are visiting every flat in the tower blocks to fit a safety notice on the back of the front door. This will explain what to do if a fire occurs. It is in your interest to allow us to fit these when we call.

You can also help protect your home against fires by reviewing Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s advice about home fire safety such as regularly checking your flat’s smoke alarm, keeping corridors free, calling 999 quickly if a fire occurs, familiarising yourself with the Stay Put policy in the event of a fire and keeping fire doors closed.

You can also take extra care when cooking to ensure that pans are not left unattended. Double-check that you have turned the heat off and taken the pan off the heat when you have finished cooking.

For more information about fire safety in high-rise accommodations, please visit the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s High Rise Living page.

Southampton residents can play their role in helping to keep their family and neighbours safe by completing Safe and Sound, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's personalised home fire safety checker.