Health & Safety
Asbestos report
An Asbestos Survey reports on the likely locations of asbestos in the communal areas together with any recommendations. The building was constructed post 2001 and at that time, use of asbestos containing materials had ceased. An asbestos survey is not required.
Fire Risk and Health and Safety Assessments
Emergency Lighting
The Buildings Regulations 2010 state that it is not necessary to provide escape lighting in small blocks of flats of no more than two storeys, with adequate levels of natural or street lighting (borrowed lighting). If installed, emergency lighting should be tested every month.
Combined LED sensor and emergency lighting has been installed in the communal areas.
Fire Alarms
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) and the Housing Act 2004 state that in ‘general needs’ blocks designed to support a ‘stay put’ policy, the guide makes it clear that it is unnecessary and undesirable for a communal fire alarm system to be provided. There has never been any requirement under Building Regulations, local acts or bye-laws to install a communal fire alarm system in a purpose-built block of flats, nor is there any such requirement today under the Building Regulations 2010. A communal fire detection and alarm system will inevitably lead to a proliferation of false alarms. This will impose a burden on fire and rescue services and lead to residents ignoring warnings of genuine fires. A fire alarm system ought to be provided only in a building in which some control can be achieved over the occupants to ensure that they respond appropriately. For most blocks of flats, it would be unrealistic to expect this. Nor is it necessarily desirable that evacuation should take place from areas remote from the fire, unless and until these areas themselves become threatened by the fire.
In view of the above, only in unusual circumstances will a communal fire detection and alarm system be appropriate for a ‘general needs’ purpose-built block of flats.
There are no fire alarms at Herschel Close.
Site Inspection Reports
12 May 2026
26 February 2026
27 November 2025
30 July 2025
22 April 2025
03 January 2025
03 December 2024
24 October 2024
26 September 2024
05 August 2024
16 April 2024
09 January 2024
24 January 2023