The guidance is currently under public consultation, with an anticipated publication date of April 2017. It has been produced for the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) by fire safety consultants, C. S. Todd & Associates Ltd. who have worked in consultation with key stakeholders from across the fire, care and housing sector.
The guidance relates to specialised housing including sheltered, extra care and supported housing. This covers a diverse range of accommodation (excluding care homes), where residents across the age spectrum have varying degrees of immobility or may have physical or cognitive impairments which leave them at increased vulnerability in emergency situations.
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Although specifically written for premises in England and Wales, it is expected that the principles of the guide will be applicable in Northern Ireland. A separate version of the guidance will be produced for Scotland.
Colin Bassnett, Principal Fire Safety Advisor, talked about Metro Safety's commitment to ensuring high levels of competency amongst its fire risk assessors and the important contribution he believed regular CPD events could make towards achieving this.
"We are delighted that we were able to invite Colin Todd, who is one of the country's leading experts in the fire safety industry, to present this valuable and informative CPD event for us.
We place the utmost importance on maintaining high levels of competency amongst our assessors. Part of this commitment requires us to make sure that they are conversant with any new guidance introduced and are able to provide expert and informed advice to our clients. We work with a number of housing associations and private sector housing providers who may have this type of accommodation within their housing stock. We have a duty to support them and make sure we can provide fire risk assessments and advice on fire safety issues and procedures which reflect the needs of, and help safeguard, this most vulnerable sector of the community."
www.metrosafety.co.uk
Image: (L to R) Colin Todd of C.S. Todd Associated Ltd, Colin Bassnett of Metro Safety.
