Have You Considered Fire Safety Rules While Converting Residential Flats into Open Plan Living

Converting Residential Flats and Houses into open plan living is the latest design trend, but has Fire Safety been considered? You may find that a you need to get advice or even permission from a London based Fire Safety Consultancy or Building Control.

Sometimes the ‘Dream’ Cannot Always Cecome ‘Reality’.

Before you go to the significant cost of knocking down walls and redesigning your kitchen/lounge/diner it may be money well spent to send your proposed plans to a Fire Safety Consultancy for advice or Building Control.

It is better to know at planning stage if there are any issues rather than completing the works and then finding that the Fire protection is not adequate.

Fire compartmentation is there to protect you – to keep you safe from a Fire for as long as possible. Taking the compartmentation away creates a high-risk environment. 

It is not always bad news – there are compensatory measures that sometimes can be used such as a full Automatic Fire Alarm and Detection system and/or a Fire Suppression System.

Getting the right advise is imperative and once your plans are approved (if that is required) it will be up to you to ensure that the Fire Suppression System and/or the Fire Alarm and Detection System is inspected and maintained to regulations.

London Fire Risk Assessments are a London based Fire Safety Consultancy, they have been serving clients for over 12 years. Their Fire Risk Assessors are qualified with the Institution of Fire Engineers and they are all retired London Fire Brigade Fire Safety Officers, so they are experienced in both sides - putting Fires out and preventing them! 

To discuss your plans or for Fire Safety advice contact London Fire Risk Assessments on 01689 890879 they will be happy to take a brief look at your plans and advise you on the way forward.

Electric Fire in a London Purpose Built Block of Flats believed to be caused by an Electrical fault.

London Fire Brigade reported on their incident page that Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers were called to a fire at a block of flats in Ross Road, Wallington.

Part of a flat on the second floor of the four-storey building was damaged by the fire. The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault within a consumer unit. To read more click here.

London Fire Risk Assessments advice to customers: Fire Safety Protection starts with a Fire Risk Assessment for your Block of Flats – every Block must have one it is required by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The first part of the Fire Safety Risk Assessment process is a Fire Safety Inspection/Audit and it is at this stage that the Assessor, amongst many other formalities, checks that there is a current 5 year periodical test: BS 7671 in place. To read more click here. 

The Assessor will identify any anomalies within the premise and will record the findings in the Fire Safety Management Plan - Significant Findings of the report this will then be handed to your Property Management Company to action on. 

Also included in the Fire Risk Assessment will be a Fire Emergency Plan for your London premise. It is of paramount importance that all Residents know the plan to be able to react swiftly in times of Emergency. If you haven’t seen the Fire Safety Emergency Plan ask your Management Company for a copy. Remember a Fire moves fast and so must you and your family. 

For further advice on any aspects of Fire Safety Protection call our friendly team on 01689 890879 or click here to email

Kitchen Fire in Student Accommodation Whitechapel London.

London Landlords of Houses in Multiple Occupancy - are all your Fire Safety Protection measures in place?

The London Fire Brigade reported on their incident page that Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers were called to a kitchen fire in offices and student accommodation on Old Montague Street in White chapel.

A communal kitchen on the third floor of the building was damaged by the blaze. Around 80 people left the property before firefighters arrived and thankfully nobody was injured. To read more click here.

London Fire Risk Assessments advice to customers:

London Houses in Multiple Occupancy and Student House Share are at a higher risk of having a Fire mainly due to the number of individuals sharing the facilities.

It is extremely important that Landlords have a suitable and sufficient Fire Safety Risk Assessment for their HMO. As part of the Risk Assessment process the Fire Safety Inspection will note any deficiencies in the premise and identify any additional Fire Safety Protection measure required.

Student should always ask before moving into their London accommodation to witness the Fire Safety Risk Assessment. If there isn’t one then it will show that the Landlord is not fulfilling his lawful duty and highlight that the level of management of the premise is not very good.

Landlord’s if you require a Fire Safety Inspection for your London premise, or you require your existing Fire Risk Assessment to be audited and reviewed contact us on 01689 890879 or 
click here