Something's up….with residential care.

(Image: SEE Monster)

OWLA do a fair bit of work for several residential care providers and since the Hackett Review we have noticed a change that is becoming the new normal. Fire compliance has become a lot tougher and justly so. Our first experience of this was whilst obtaining building regulations approval for a combined new build and retro fit home in Kent.

At the time we felt the inspector was being a little unreasonable in referring decisions to the DCLG and we found decisions of both strategy and detail were subject to a much greater level of scrutiny despite having consulted the Fire Service at an early stage. The building was a little unconventional in that it utilised a clad façade and curtain walling which necessitated a whole series of specialist cavity barriers. In hindsight however this ‘baptism of fire’ proved extremely useful in developing our understanding of the approved documents and the nuances of what is a very particular purpose group. The building also won a civic award.

More recently, the introduction of secondary legislation under the Building Safety Act appears to have sharpened the teeth of the Fire Service, and both Approved Inspectors and Local Authorities. Whilst not yet designated high-risk buildings (HRB's) it may be only a matter of time before care facilities for the elderly qualify regardless of their height (though by definition they tend to be low-rise). Building control now falls under the control of the HSE in their capacity as Building Safety Regulator and this has prompted greater accountability. The new requirement for clients and consultants alike to certify the compliance of any building work has further heightened the senses and a recent increase in compliance notices has therefore come as no surprise. Clearly, care providers are not building experts and are subject to cost pressures in the same way as we all are but ultimately this is about lives. We have commented before about build quality in the UK (‘Great Expectations’ see blog from July 22) in the context of changes to Part L of the regulations. The conclusion then, ‘that at last Inspectors and the Government have realised that out of sight need not be out of mind’ equally applies here and in many instances there is little understanding nor care about that which is concealed behind the fancy finishes.

If you need our help just give us a call – improvements can sometimes deliver savings in energy use and optimisation of space. It’s not all bad.