News

In this Briefing Note we consider the safety requirements for routine access required for plant or premise maintenance, inspections etc. It is critically important to make sure that access to the place of work on the roof is safe, and the risks associated with working at height have been addressed.

In this Briefing Note we thought it would be helpful to provide a summary update of key changes / fire news items which have been published in the previous few weeks. The three topics we have chosen include: • Fire Safety: Approved Document B • Improved fire safety for new flats and social homes (Scotland) • Pre-legislative Scrutiny of the Building Safety Bill

On 21st November 2020, The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government issued a press release advising that owners of flats in buildings without cladding will no longer need an EWS1 form to sell or remortgage their properties. The main points from the press release are discussed here.

It has been eight months since the UK entered its first COVID-19 lockdown at which point the majority of workplaces were vacated as the population was advised to work from home where possible. The use of numerous buildings changed and occupancy has remained very low ever since. With the control of legionella bacteria relying on a good turnover of water, the sudden low occupancy of buildings created a need to manually increase turnover through flushing of water systems. Meeting this challenge was further complicated by the reduced availability of staff through the need to shield, self isolate or otherwise remain at home.

William Martin Compliance is committed to protecting our clients, their staff and premises as our country continues to tackle Coronavirus. We remain fully operational, delivering essential safety and health compliance services, continuing to keep our customers safe and compliant.

“Do I need to comply with the Duty to Manage asbestos across our residential portfolio and would this include any flats?” We have been asked these questions several times recently so we felt it appropriate to compile a Briefing Note to cover asbestos compliance in residential properties.

A blueprint to improve the competence of those working on higher-risk residential buildings and drive culture change has been set out by a cross-industry group representing more than 150 organisations in the fire and built environment sectors.

In order to ensure that electrical installations remain in a safe condition and have not deteriorated, the electrical fixed wiring systems in commercial and residential properties require periodic testing and inspection by a suitably qualified electrician. The Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) was introduced in 2012 to replace the previously named Periodic Inspection Report (PIR). It covers specific tests and renders a property as being ‘satisfactory’ or ‘unsatisfactory’ where electrical wiring is concerned.

The team at William Martin Compliance have been busy supporting Change Grow Live during 2019/20, a charity providing help in all areas of health and wellbeing.

If your building has been impacted by Covid-19 related low occupancy (or parts have been mothballed) are you still compliant?