Strengthening fire safety for high rise domestic buildings: consultation

Part 3 Fire Safety in Existing High Rise Domestic Buildings

We would very much like your thoughts and comments on the draft Fire Safety in Existing High Rise Domestic Buildings Guidance (the Guidance)which can be found at Annex 1. The Guidance is intended to provide consistent, easily accessible fire safety guidance for high rise domestic buildings. At present, the Guidance is ‘good practice’ advice and not a legal requirement. However, we will consider making it a legal requirement if further support is needed. This will be done in part by monitoring and evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of the Guidance.

Who is this for?

The Guidance can help everyone to be clear on what is needed for fire safety in high rise domestic buildings in Scotland. This includes high rise buildings that are council, housing association or privately owned. It is primarily to be used bypeople that own, factor, manage, give advice on and enforce standards in high rise domestic buildings.

Please read the Fire Safety Guidance (Annex 1) before answering the questions in this section. They ask about the Purpose, Clarity and Implementation of the Guidance. The findings will improve the Guidance and inform implementation.

Chapter 1: Guidance on Fire Safety in High Rise Domestic Buildings

Please answer for Chapter 1 in the Guidance

17. Is it clear that the Guidance is aimed at those that own, factor, manage, give advice on and enforce standards in high rise domestic buildings?

Yes / No / In part

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.

18. Is the purpose of the Guidance clear for those expected to use it?

Yes / No / In part

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.

19. Is it clear how the Guidance should be used in practice?

Yes / No / In part

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.

20. Is there further information that should be included?

Yes / No

Please select only one answer and let us know of any further information that should be included and why in the below box.

21. Please provide any further comments on this chapter in the box below.

Chapter 2: Fire safety design in high rise domestic buildings

Please answer for Chapter 2 in the Guidance

22. Do you think the Fire Safety measures are clearly explained in the Guidance to those that own, factor, manage, give advice on and enforce standards in high rise domestic buildings?

Yes / No / In part

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.

23. Do you think there is further information that should be included?

Yes / No

Please select only one answer and let us know of any further information that should be included and why in the below box.

24. Please provide any further comments on this chapter in the box below.

Chapter 3: Risk management – assessing the risk to persons

Please answer for Chapter 3 in the Guidance

25. Do you think the reasons for carrying out a Fire Risk Assessment in high rise domestic buildings are clearly explained?

Yes / No / In part

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.

26. Do you think how to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment in high rise domestic buildings is clearly explained in the 7 step methodology for assessing fire risk in the Guidance?

Yes / No / In part

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.

27. Do you think there is other information that should be included?

Yes / No

Please select only one answer and let us know of any further information that should be included and why in the below box.

28. If you own, factor, manage, give advice on and enforce standards in high rise domestic buildings: is there a process in place for the assessment and removal of items left in common areas?

Yes / (if yes please answer Question 29) No / Don’t know / Not relevant to me

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.

If you answered no, Don’t Know or Not relevant to Question 28, please go to Question 30.

29. If you answered yes to question 28: do you have confidence that the process works in practice?

Yes / No / Don’t know

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.

30. Please provide any further comments on this chapter in the box below.

Chapter 4: Risk management – preventing fires

Please answer for Chapter 4 in the Guidance

31. Do you think it is clearly explained how to prevent the impact of fires in high rise domestic buildings?

Yes / No / In part

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.

32. Do you think it is clearly explained how to reduce the impact of fires in high rise domestic buildings?

Yes / No / In part

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.

33. Do you think there is further information that should be included?

Yes / No

Please select only one answer and let us know of any further information that should be included and why in the below box.

34. Please provide any further comments on this chapter in the box below.

Chapter 5: Risk management – physical fire safety measures

Please answer for Chapter 5 in the Guidance

35. Do you think the physical fire safety measures in high rise domestic buildings are clearly explained?

Yes / No / In part

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.

36. Do you think there is further information that should be included?

Yes / No

Please select only one answer and let us know of any further information that should be included and why in the below box.

37. Please provide any further comments on this chapter in the box below.

Chapter 6: Risk management – ongoing control

Please answer for Chapter 6 in the Guidance

38. Do you think there is further information that should be included?

Yes / No

Please select only one answer and let us know of any further information that should be included and why in the below box.

39. Please provide any further comments on this chapter in the box below.

Chapter 7: The law on fire

This chapter gives an overview of the current law and refers to the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 and the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

40. Do you think this is useful information to have in the Guidance?

Yes / No / In part

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.

41. Is the information on legislation in this section of the guidance clear?

Yes / No / In part

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.

Appendix 3: Fire Risk Assessment Template

There is a suggested Fire Risk template included with the Guidance. The aim is to provide a straightforward template that works with the Guidance. Other templates can be used, including those already developed by you or your organisation. As noted in the ‘Fire Safety in High Rise Domestic Buildings’ Guidance, fire risk assessments should be completed by someone with the appropriate capability to carry one out. This should be kept in mind when answering the following questions.

42. Do you think that those responsible for carrying out a fire risk assessment will find the included Fire Rise Assessment template easy to use to carry out an effective assessment?

Yes / No / In part

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.

General questions on the Guidance

Please keep in mind when answering, that this guidance is intended for those that own, factor, manage, give advice on and enforce standards in high rise domestic buildings.

43. Can you suggest ways to let people know this Guidance is available once it is published?

44. Will this Guidance be straightforward to use by those that own, factor, manage, give advice on and enforce standards in high rise domestic buildings?

Yes / No / In part

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.

45. Do you think the content is clear and easy to understand?

Yes / No / In part

Please select only one answer and provide any comments in the box below.