Month: May 2019

To complete its Refuse Chute Safe System, Chute Fire Certification UK® now offers hopper doorsets, providing a one-stop refuse chute solution for owners of multiple occupancy buildings.  The five new models of hopper doorsets easily passed the required 2.5 hours fire test and are now certified to BS476: Part 22: 1987. Existing customers of Chute Fire Certification are delighted that the new hopper doorsets are now available, having pre-ordered with confidence that they would achieve the British Safety Standard.  Managing Director Avene Furness-Monks was at the test and said, “We have incorporated within our design products supplied by industry leaders, Pyroplex Systems and Quelfire and It was fabulous to see that even after the test was complete, the hopper doorset maintained its full integrity.” One of the first customers is Steve O’Neill, Facility Manager at First Ark, responsible for the facilities management at Knowsley Housing Trust.  He said “We have full trust in the Chute Fire Certification UK® team to inspect, manufacture and install chutes to the highest standards required in the industry.  We ordered the new hopper doorsets in all the refurbishments where they were required.  Not only do they look smart, the inspection date and relevant safety information is clear for everyone to see.” Refuse chutes need to be inspected regularly by a Certified Fire Technician.  Depending on what is found during the inspection, the dedicated Chute Fire Certification UK® Fire Technician will advise on the best course of action to ensure that the refuse chute will not be a fire risk in any building.  This may include minor or major refurbishments to the chutes, but customers are left safe in the knowledge that the highest possible standards have been used to keep people and assets safe from fire. Click here for more information about our comprehensive chute refurbishment systems.

Jigsaw Homes (part of the Jigsaw Group) is one of the largest housing association groups within England, providing more than 34,000 homes across the North West and East Midlands. Chute Fire Certification UK® has inspected, serviced and repaired refuse chutes in several of Jigsaw Homes’ tower blocks, and are now focussing on the hopper door replacement on each floor. Ron Devine, Electrical & Service Contracts Manager, Jigsaw Group has worked with Avene Furness, Director of Chute Fire Certification UK® for the last 12 months in order to ensure that FRA regulations are adhered to in their properties.  “Previously, we repaired the chute fire plates when they were broken. However, the FRA recommendations require us to have a more structured and proactive approach, and this is what Chute Fire Certification UK® has been able to introduce to Jigsaw Homes. We now have all the relevant paperwork giving evidence of the chute’s bi-annual certification to ensure compliance. But what really adds value is the report that they provide. Before we started working with Chute Fire Certification UK®, we didn’t have a clear picture of what the contractor had done. Now we have written and photographic evidence, and you can really tell from the before and after photos exactly what they have done” summarised Devine. One of the findings that Furness and her team bought to Devine’s notice was the fusible links in some of the fire plates that had been installed when the building property was built. These play a vital role in passive fire protection, and need to be inspected, tested and replaced regularly, especially in the environment of a bin room. After working with Chute Fire Certification UK®, Devine has developed a deep understanding of all the elements required to be in place to ensure that any fire is contained until the emergency services arrive. They are now working on a programme to ensure that the hopper doors inside the tower block provide the same level of protection as the E120 Chute Fire Safe Protection System installed by Chute Fire Certification UK® at the bottom of the chute. “Avene is extremely passionate about chutes and won’t let anything slip through the net.  If they say they’ll be there, they are there. We’ve set up a maintenance agreement to make sure we provide the highest level of passive fire safety for all the refuse chutes throughout our estate, and ultimately, our residents” Devine concludes. Furness adds “When we first presented Jigsaw Homes with our Chute Inspection Reports they were quick to take action and chute refurbishment works began immediately. It is clear that the safety of their residents is of paramount importance. I’m not the only member of Chute Fire Certification UK® to be passionate about chutes, our passion is what drives myself and my dedicated team to provide the very best in installation and service every day.”