We have taken positive steps to ensuring our high-rise buildings are the safest they can be for residents and that they meet the requirements of new fire safety legislation that came into force on 23 January 2023.
Across Sunderland, the Group has 25 high-rise residential buildings containing 679 flats.
The Group has invested in these buildings in the following ways:
- creating a digital model of all 25 high-rise buildings to ensure accurate and up to date information is available about each building and how the safety systems work
- installing wayfinding signage that is visible in low light or smoky conditions, which identifies flat and floor numbers in the stairwells
- carrying out monthly checks on lifts and the functionality of key pieces of firefighting equipment
- updating information boxes in each building to ensure accurate information is available to the Fire and Rescue Service if it is needed
- carrying out external wall surveys to assess the safety standard of the building
- upgrading fire alarms and installing smoke control systems where necessary
Laura Smith, Strategic Fire Safety Manager at Gentoo Group said:
"We will continue to proactively meet changes in legislation to ensure our buildings are safe, secure and compliant. We want our tenants and residents to have confidence that the building where they live is safe and well managed."
We work with Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service to keep tenants safe by carrying out regular training and familiarisation visits to the Group’s high-rise buildings.
Station Manager Jade Makarski, from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service Fire Safety Department, said:
"It’s great to see that Gentoo are being proactive and investing in the fire safety of their buildings as well as engaging with the people who live there about why these changes are needed.
"We’ve been working across the North East to ensure that the new fire safety legislation is understood by housing providers to reassure our community after the horrific tragedy at Grenfell in 2017.
"These improvements can save our firefighters vital time if an incident were ever to occur."
