Fire Safety Policy

Amplius will implement, manage, and monitor adequate fire safety training, instruction and awareness for all employees involved in the management of fire safety.

Qualified and competent contractors will be appointed to provide services to meet the requirements of this policy.  The minimum requirements are, Fire Risk Assessments (IFE Approved Qualification BAFE SP205-1), Fire installations (BAFE SP203) and Fire Fighting Equipment (SP101).

Amplius will maintain up-to-date records (asset register) of all premises it owns or manages setting out whether premises require an FRA.

Premises requiring an FRA will meet one of the criteria listed below:

• Amplius workplaces and offices.
• Internal shared hallways (not porches) serving three or more flats.
• Internal shared stairways or corridors.
• Shared balconies and fully or partially enclosed external access/egress routes serving 3 or more dwellings.
• Shared lounges, laundries, activity rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and / or internal mobility scooter rooms.
• Buildings containing 2 or more dwellings where each dwelling has its own front door, no external walkways or stairwells.

In addition, Amplius will maintain up-to-date records ensuring that all fire protection equipment is maintained, and a suitably qualified contractor is appointed to undertake cyclical maintenance at least annually or by manufacturers guidance or the fire risk assessment, whichever is most frequent.

Amplius will ensure that all doors which lead onto a common space are fire-rated to ensure the escape routes are protected

Amplius will maintain up-to-date records ensuring that all fire doors in relevant buildings (Building over 11m) are inspected as per the below frequencies:

• Flat Entrance Fire Doors – Annually
• Communal Fire Doors / Riser Cupboard – Quarterly

FRA’s will be undertaken in accordance with regulations.

Unless there is reason to expect serious deficiencies in structural fire protection, such as inadequate compartmentalisation or poor fire stopping a Type 3 – Common parts and flats (non-destructive) inspection will be undertaken.  A Type 3 survey will inspect a sample of flats and look for any deficiencies in fire detection, fire doors and means of escape.

Where doubt exists or concerns are raised as part of the FRA process a full compartmentation survey by a suitably qualified contractor will be undertaken.

FRA’s will be renewed on or before the date recommended by the Competent Persons undertaking the previous assessment.  In any event, renewals of FRA’s will be undertaken at frequencies not greater than those in the table below.

All FRA’s will be reviewed annually or sooner if there is a significant change to a premise including:

• Structural or material changes to the building.
• Change in the tenure classification of the property e.g., a change from General Needs to Sheltered accommodation (with internal communal areas).
• Fire, near miss or threat of arson.

The outcome of the FRA will be an action plan that sets out a prioritised list of any physical and managerial measures (tasks) to ensure that the risk from fire is maintained at or reduced to an acceptable level.

Tasks arising from FRA’s will be given a defined target completion date recommended by the Competent Persons undertaking the FRA.  The FRA task will be updated as the task progresses to completion with a full audit trails and appropriate evidence in place before the task is closed.

All high-risk tasks are phoned through to the Asset Compliance Team by the Assessor from site.  This will trigger an immediate response to rectify the issue.

The FRA will review the evacuation procedure for the building.  Any changes to the evacuation procedure will be communicated to customers.

Amplius will make sure that all new buildings, refurbishments, or changes to properties follow current fire safety laws and regulations, reducing fire risks as much as possible.

If specialist advice is needed, such as for complex designs or specific uses, a Fire Safety Consultant may be involved before and during the project to ensure all requirements are met.

A Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) will be carried out within one month of a building being completed or occupied.

For acquisitions, a new suitable FRA’s will need to be carried out to ensure related safety arrangements are in place as part of the due diligence undertaken as part of the acquisition process.

Amplius will provide employees, visitors and all other interested parties that visit premises with comprehensive and relevant information regarding fire safety via the display of appropriately located fire safety signage and notices.  The evacuation procedure for the building will be displayed in the communal areas.

Amplius will provide fire safety information to customers via the customer information pack and tenancy declaration as part of the sign-up process.

Fire safety information will be provided to all employees at induction and as part of the mandatory training programme.

Amplius will provide and manage suitable fire protection equipment such as fire alarms, fire extinguishers, lighting, signage, fire exits and fire doors to ensure effective working order and maintain fire-separating elements for example smoke seals / vents etc. designed to prevent fire and smoke from entering escape routes.

Where existing fire protection measures are identified in the FRA as a potential hazard or have been superseded through alternative measures or changes in legislation they may be removed.

In line with the requirements of British Standards, and the Fire Safety Order, Amplius will carry out regular tests on all communal and office fire protection equipment.  The frequency of tests will be as recommended by the installer or manufacturer and/or by risk assessment findings.

If repairs are required to any fire safety equipment the Fire Contractor will respond within the following agreed timeframes:

Small works quotes are issued to Amplius by the Fire Contractor following the servicing or testing of fire equipment.

Callouts are where Amplius contacts the Fire Contractor when a fault has been found with the fire safety equipment, or a fire alarm is sounding and needs to be silenced and reset. 

All contractors who undertake fire safety works/ Assessments for Amplius have a contract in place with a data-sharing agreement in place, our Data Protection and Confidentiality Policy all form part of these contracts. Customer Data is shared via a secure server within a CSV file, customer name/contact details are not sent within the same file of addresses.

Data retention is in line with other policies and statutory requirements.

Amplius is committed to ensuring that no person or group of persons will be treated less favourably than another person or group of persons and will carry out our duty with positive regard for the following protected characteristics: Age, Disability, Race, Gender Reassignment, Sexual Orientation, Sex, Religion or Belief, Marriage and Civil Partnership and Pregnancy and Maternity.

Amplius recognises that, for various reasons, some of our customers and service users may be vulnerable. Policies therefore will take account of the recommendations made by the Housing Ombudsman and Regulatory recommendations on vulnerabilities. Amplius will take a proactive approach when making a decision relating to a customer or service user and where practicable, tailor and adapt our services to suit the needs of customers and support vulnerable people.