Building Safety Case Reports

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What is a Safety Case Report?

A Safety Case Report (SCR) is a comprehensive document that summarises a Building Safety Case, identifies building safety risks and, demonstrates how these risks are being managed with regards to the spread of fire and structural failure. It outlines strategies and control measures that serve to keep residents safe within occupied high-rise residential buildings in the UK.

The report helps property owners, managers, and authorities manage risk associated with fire and structural safety, thereby providing a greater level of understanding and confidence to residents about how their building will perform in the event of an emergency.

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Key Components of a Safety Case Report

Building Description : A detailed description of the building, including its size, layout, construction materials, and any modifications made.

Principal Accountable Persons and Accountable Persons : A person or organisation that either owns or has a legal obligation to repair any common parts of a building including the structure and building exterior.

Construction and Structure : A detailed description of when your building was built or converted, foundations, structural members, wall types, roof and insulation levels. Has your building been subject to an FRAEW or disproportionate collapse assessment? How confident are you that in the event of a significant incident that your building is not compromised by structural failure or spread of fire?

Fire Strategy : A fire strategy is a technical document that sets the basis for fire safety control measures from the design of a building to occupation. It is the conduit for a Fire Risk Assessment and is a vital document to demonstrate compliance with Building Regulations, for example, it details evacuation plans tailored to the building’s design and occupancy which ensures the safe escape of all residents in the event of an emergency.

Services and Utilities : A summary of incoming utility services and where responsibility starts and end for both building owner and utility provider. Isolation points must be noted along with any shared services and identification of distribution routes throughout the building.

Safety Systems Overview : An explanation of the active and passive fire safety systems in place (e.g., sprinklers, fire alarms, compartmentalisation).

Documentation of other safety mechanisms, like emergency lighting, signage, and escape routes.

Building Safety Risk Assessment : An in-depth assessment of fire and structural risks specific to the building. This should identify potential hazards, likelihood of occurrence, and impact on residents.

Risk Management Plan : A description of how identified risks are mitigated through control measures, such as, maintenance, fire prevention measures, and emergency planning.

Procedures for managing ongoing building issues, such as how defects or issues are reported, assessed, and resolved.

Mandatory Occurrence Reporting : A system which building operators and owners must establish and maintain to facilitate prompt reporting of stipulated safety occurrences to the Building Safety Regulator.? A safety occurrence relates to a situation or incident relating to the fire safety or structural integrity of a building.

Safety Management Systems : A succinct summary of systems and mechanisms in place to effectively identify and, manage, monitor and control hazards and risks. A Plan-Do-Check-Act technique can demonstrate a proactive approach in seeking and preventing accidents, alongside continuous improvement, to ensure the fire and structural integrity is not compromised.

Leadership and Governance, Competence and Accountability : A clear explanation of the leadership journey, including lessons learned, stakeholder and resident engagement, communication strategies, cultural implementation, obstacles faced, and measures taken to overcome. Identification of individuals or entities responsible for maintaining the safety of a property. This includes owners, management teams, and external contractors. A record of training, qualifications, and competencies of those involved in managing safety risks.

Planning for Emergencies : An explanation of the strategy for your building should an emergency happen, often this will be “stay put”, but may be something else such as “simultaneous evacuation”. Your report must demonstrate the effectiveness of the controls in place whilst ensuring that information is provided and understood for new and existing residents.

Demonstration: All Reasonable Steps : The safety case report must provide details of the measures you have in place to manage structural safety and prevent and control the spread of fire. A claim, argument evidence rationale can be adopted to highlight that your measures and controls address the scenarios identified by your building safety risk assessment whilst demonstrating a proportionate approach? to ‘all reasonable steps’.

Ongoing Maintenance / Works and Improvement Plans : Evidence of regular safety inspections, maintenance logs, and updates to safety systems.

Plans for future monitoring and upgrades to the property's safety systems as new regulations or technologies arise. Improvements may be required, this must be state how and when you intend to implement additional control measures or, processes and procedures as part of an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.

Resident Engagement Strategy : Engagement is more than just telling people what is happening. Residents should feel involved in the decisions that affect building safety. You should have systems in place to understand your building’s demographic and how best to engage with residents to take account of their views and how their participation is promoted and measured and kept under review.

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?Why is a Building Safety Case Required?

Following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, it became apparent that there were significant safety failings in some residential properties, particularly high-rises.

This led to the introduction of more stringent regulations through the Building Safety Act 2022, and the Building Safety Case is part of this framework.

If you feel Anstey Horne can help you learn more, please reach out Sean Robinson BSc (Hons) MCIOB MIFSM

?? [email protected]

??? 07904 563 481

?? 0207 974 0920

Our next article will identify the benefits of a Building Safety Case Report... watch this space