From Renovation to Operation: A Tailored Fire Risk Solution For A Newly Refurbished Care Home

A puzzling circular problem of compliance in vacant premises. How we solved one client’s compliance issues, enabling the premises to become operational and helping them plan for the future. 

We worked with our client to produce a valid fire risk assessment for a new part of their business despite it not yet being operational, enabling them to implement a timely staggered opening schedule. This real-world example highlights our commitment to outstanding customer service, agile problem-solving, and how our 360 approach and expert Health & Safety team can support your business. 

Problem

The client, a care provider with a portfolio of residential properties, had fully renovated a vacant residential care facility. 

To obtain permission to trade, they needed a fire risk assessment as per the local authority requirements. However, fire regulations state that a fire risk assessment must be completed in an operational establishment in order to be compliant.

Background

Premises must have a valid PAS79 compliant fire risk assessment to be able to open but, as the premises was new, it had no previous valid document to present. The client also wanted to be able to initially open just the ground floor to new residents, to help with the cash flow and to test procedures, before then finishing and opening the second floor.

Solution

As we had worked with the client at their other care homes, producing generic documents and undertaking fire risk assessments, we wrote a suitably worded PAS79 fire risk assessment which was produced just prior to them opening the home. The wording and actions enabled that same fire risk assessment to remain current and relevant for the first year, so that the home could obtain approval and operate legally.

Results

Local authority approval was granted. Local authorities also accepted the document post opening, with the suggestion of a new full PAS79 compliant fire risk assessment being undertaken again within twelve months of opening. 

A plan is also now in place to update all the fire risk assessments across the group to modern PAS79 compliant documents on a rolling basis, so that each year at least three of the homes in the group will get a new PAS79 compliant fire risk assessment completed.

Contact Us

To find out more about how our 360 approach and expert Health & Safety team can support your business, contact a member of our team at HealthandSafety@skaltd.co.uk.

Disclaimer

The information and any commentary contained within these updates are for general information purposes only and do not constitute legal or any other type of professional advice. Stallard Kane does not accept and, to the extent permitted by law, exclude liability to any person for any loss which may arise from relying upon or otherwise using the information contained in these blogs. If you have a particular query or issue, you are strongly advised to obtain specific, personal advice about your issue and not to rely solely on the information or comments in these updates.