The Locksmith Journal Sep-Oct 2016 - Issue 46 | Page 30

30 • INDUSTRYNEWS PROUD SPONSORS OF THIS PAGE Nation’s poorest are at greatest risk of fire, warns fire door safety campaign Fire Door Safety Week shined the spotlight on fire safety in rented flats. ! »»HALF OF TENANTS HAVE NEVER these are often homes for the people with ! ?2016 £ the fewest ? been given emergency fire plan choices about where they live £ FIRE DOOR SAFETY ! information for the building they live in. and the least opportunity to move. WEEK SURVEY ? living £ Here’s what 1001 UK tenants living in flats had to say about fire safety in their buildings. Only around a quarter of tenants “We frequently see fire doors in blocks ! in flats (28%) feel completely safe from ! of flats in a poor state of repair; fire doors Only 1/3 of the …compared with 33 lowest income ? 88 27 28 ? households £ £ of tenants who fire. that won’t close;£ fire doors that have been renting flats have earn more than The poorest in society seen fire plan% % % % 58 70 15 33 88 27 28 information for continue to be at the £100,000 The situation is worse for lower income wedged open. This is, of course, just one their building… a year greatest risk from fire... tenants earning £25,000 or less, compared aspect of fire safety in these buildings, but Two out of nine of tenants who earn households with 33 88 27 28 than £25,000 less £25,000 to higher income tenants. good fire doors are often a sign of good fire % %incomes under% % % % % 70 who have15 33 88 27 28feel more at risk 58 concerns a year about fire safety can’t from fire Do the 5 Step Fire Door Check, say safety generally. % afford to move 33 88% 27% 28% We are urging all tenants 58 70 15 ! Half of all tenants campaigners. to carry out a simple 5 Step Fire Door Just 28% of all ? £ £ have never seen tenants living in flats emergency fire plan London Fire Brigade says: Know The Check as a matter of urgency, and to report 58% 70% 15% feel completely safe information for the from fire 58% 70% 15% building they live in Plan for your building. any concerns to the Responsible Person, ! 58% of all tenants New data released today for Fire Door most likely their landlord, straightaway.” 33! 88 27 28 and more than 70% lower income ? oftenants £15% ? of tenants £ The Government’s chief fire and rescue have no idea Safety Week shows that the poorest in living in blocks of flats who who the ‘Responsible 58 70 fire15 have safety concerns Person’ is for their have never reported them building society continue to be at greatest risk from adviser, Peter Holland CBE, says: fire, with lower income tenants more “Fire doors perform a vital role, but only concerned about fire safety where they 33 88 27 28if they are properly specified, installed, live, less informed about how to protect managed and maintained. The message 33% 88% 27% 28% 58 70 15 themselves, and less able to move away is simple. If you see a problem, don’t walk from perceived danger. past – that goes for doors that are wedged 58% 70% 15% Just a third (35%) of the lowest income open, damaged or badly fitted. Report it The research reinforces the urgent households renting flats say they have to your building manager or landlord or to need for greater fire safety education been given information on the emergency your local f