On Wednesdays our phone lines will not be available until 10 am. If you have an emergency please call 0800 0850 160. For routine enquires and repairs or to pay your rent please log in to your mybdht account here Our call wait times are longer than usual, please call between 3pm and 5pm when we are quieter
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Fire Safety

A health check for a building’s fire safety

We’re committed to being open and transparent with customers about how we make sure you are safe in your home and free from harm, including keeping you and your home safe in the event of a fire.

The safety of our customers is our absolute priority and we comply with all our legal responsibilities to keep you safe.

We do this through a dedicated team in conjunction with the wider organisation

What is a fire risk assessment?

It is a legal requirement that we carry out fire risk assessments (FRA) to check all our flats, independent living Schemes and extra care schemes for fire risks.

With each fire risk assessment issued, there is also a corresponding Certificate of Conformity. The Certificate is a statement to you that we have applied the standards required by BAFE SP205 in undertaking the fire risk assessment.

A fire risk assessment or FRA is an inspection of the building to identify any fire hazards and remove or reduce the risk of those hazards causing harm. FRAs are carried out by a suitably qualified or experienced person.

All FRAs include recommendations or actions to be taken based on the type of recommendation identified. Urgent actions are prioritised and completed, and other less urgent actions are incorporated into our improvement and investment programmes.

We are working to publish all our FRAs on our website. Please contact us if you would like a copy of a Fire Risk Assessment.

Fire is caused by many things in properties, it is important to always remain vigilant.

All our properties have working smoke alarms to alert you in the event of a fire, it is important that you remember to test the alarm every week to ensure it functions well

If your fire alarm is not working, replace the battery if it has one and if it still isn’t working then report it to us as soon as you can.

Ensure you have an evacuation plan in place, and everyone knows what to do in the event of a fire in your home, this will help you get out safely, when you are alerted to a fire.

Never fight a fire in your home unless it is safe to do so, ‘’if in doubt get out’’.

All our flats operate a ‘Stay-Put’ policy.

This is because of many factors which include: The original construction and sequent improvements to items such as fire doors.

These provide additional safety which will protect you from the effects of fire and should not be altered or changed without our consent.

This enables you to stay in your home if there was a fire somewhere else in the building, to safely wait for the fire service arrive.

All our Independent Living Schemes operate a ‘Progressive evacuation’ policy.

This is because of many factors which include: The original construction and sequent improvements to items such as fire doors.

These provide additional safety which will protect you from the effects of fire and should not be altered or changed without our consent.

This enables you to stay in your home if there was a fire somewhere else in the building, to safely wait for the fire service arrive.

You will be alerted by communal fire alarm to alert residents of a fire in another part of the building.

We ask you to stay in your flat on hearing the alarm.  If you are in a  common areas of the building, such as a community room you should leave by the nearest exit and await the instructions from the Fire Service.

In support of the FRA and its findings we also undertake all servicing, testing and inspections on items like:

  • Fire Alarms & Emergency Lighting.
  • Dry Rising Mains & Sprinkler Systems.
  • Inspection of our Communal Spaces that includes:
  • Directional & Other Signage
  • Fire Doors
  • Ensuring The Communal Areas are free from residents’ items.

We always aim to keep you safe and to enable us to do so you should always:

  • Follow any guidance or information on signage and notices placed in common areas.
  • Maintain all escape routes clear from household and other items, ‘’if you see them report them’’.
  • Always follow the ‘Fire Action Notice’ provided in all common areas.
  • Never leave cooking items unattended
  • Always test your fire alarm every week on the same day if possible.
  • Always let us in to carry out any servicing, testing and inspection of items provided to protect you from the effects of fire.

 

To keep you and your neighbours safe please:

  • Remove any furniture, belongings or rubbish stored within stairwells or outside your property.
  • Keep the communal door and the door to your home closed, to prevent the spread of fire.
  • All access and egress to be kept clear to ensure a suitable route of escape in the event of a fire.
  • Keep electric meters and storage cupboards locked when not in use.
  • Remove gas cylinders or flammable/combustible material from communal areas and your property. If you must use oxygen for medical purposes please inform us, to ensure we can keep you and your neighbours safe.
  • Bicycles, pushchairs to be stored so they do not cause an obstruction to corridors, landings, or stairs.
  • Please report any damages which affect the security of the building including to the communal door.
  • Ensure external doormats are fire retardant and non-slip to prevent trip hazards.
  • Please refrain from smoking in communal areas.
  • Keeping bin store areas tidy and bin lids closed as this can help prevent fires, please also ensure the bins are kept in the designated bin store areas away from the building.
  • Do not add nets or other window coverings in the common areas.

Mobility Scooters

  • If you own and use a mobility scooter, please store these in dedicated stores if one is available if not then you must store the mobility scooter inside your flat in line with Bdht’s policy, so they do not cause an obstruction or an increased fire risk within the corridors, landings, or stairs. Mobility scooters shouldn’t be charged in communal areas.

Electric Powered Bikes & Scooters

  • If you own and use an electric powered bike, scooter, hoverboard or Segway, please store these in dedicated stores if one is available if not then you must store the mobility scooter inside your flat, in line with Bdht’s policy so they do not cause an obstruction or an increased fire risk within the corridors, landings, or stairs. Mobility scooters shouldn’t be charged in communal areas.

All balconies must always remain free of combustible materials, you are not permitted to use barbeques, fireworks or store and use electrical appliances on your balcony.

If you require help to remove and dispose of larger items, then you can contact your local council for a bulky waste collection.

  • Bromsgrove District Council – 01527 881288
  • Redditch Borough Council – 01527 64252
  • Solihull Council – 0121 704 8000
  • Birmingham City Council – 0121 303 1112
  • Wychavon District Council – 01386 565000
  • Wyre Forest District Council – 01562 732528

Contact us if you have any  concerns difficulties removing belongings.