Since the tragedy at Grenfell Tower our first priority has been to check and review our own fire safety arrangements, which we have continued to do through our collaborative approach with the Fire Service. We have a comprehensive fire risk procedure which provides assurance of fire safety and compliance for our tenants.
There has been a lot of speculation regarding our refurbishment works at St Katherines Court. As part of this review we have checked with our contractors and suppliers and have confirmed that the cladding being installed at St Katherines Court is not the same as at Grenfell Tower and meets current fire regulations. The cladding is a layered composite enamel that provides full fire safety ratings, is deemed a non-risk product and was therefore not required to be submitted for testing by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
While we are satisfied by the type of construction materials used, fire safety is also very much about the actions taken to pro-actively manage fire risk, such as testing alarms, detection systems and emergency lighting in blocks. In the days since the West London fire, NPH has continued its proactive approach to manage fire risk and continued to enforce a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to fire safety.
We are therefore wholly satisfied that as well as being fully compliant with current regulations, our approach to fire safety offers us full assurance.
However, we wish to go further and want to offer extra reassurance to our residents that their safety is our top priority. We’re pleased to confirm that although we are not required by law to install them, we have already contracted to install a sprinkler system in the fire exits and communal areas of St Katherines Court, our only high rise block. We expect the refurbishment works at St Katherines Court to be complete by Autumn.
Meanwhile, we advise any resident who has a concern about fire safety in their home to contact us on 0300 3307003.