Category: Press Releases

Chute Fire Certification UK is proud to have sponsored the sports kit for the girls at Lymm High School. The support we provided enabled the school to take 48 young sportswomen to Malaga, Spain, for a once-in-a-lifetime experience playing football, hockey and netball against local teams and to train in a world-famous facility. As well as playing local football and hockey teams in Malaga, the girls travelled to Gibraltar to play against the Gibraltar Netball Club. Fortunately, it wasn’t all hard work, the team also enjoyed a dolphin cruise and evening entertainment including a talent show at the resort. We are delighted to have supported this young talent – to help build their teamwork and leadership skills, as well as providing significant health and mental wellbeing benefits.

Challenges Thompson Court is an 11-storey high block, owned and managed by Jigsaw Homes Group. It is separated into private apartments on each floor. The building was constructed in the 1970’s and was fitted with an external chute with hopper doors on each floor. Jigsaw requested their contractor Casey to replace the external cladding, who also identified that the chute would need replacing. Consultation Jigsaw Homes have been working with CFUK to refurbish and maintain their Refuse Chutes for the last five years, and we worked with Casey on the Littlemoor House chute refurbishment in 2021. When we arrived on site and started to remove the original chute, heavy usage over 40 years was evident and it was clearly time for the old chute to be replaced with a new and fully compliant products. Michael Cheetham from Casey said, “After working with Chute Fire Certification on a very similar project last year, we were very happy to work with the team again at Thompson Court. They fitted in easily with our schedule of works, they have a good work ethic and installed a fully compliant Refuse Chute system with no issues.” Solution The replacement chute was designed as a 600mm diameter, 2mm thick steel chute, manufactured in the UK by VB Engineering Limited* and installed with minimum disruption to residents. Each floor was served with new hopper doors with a 2.5- hour fire rating, meeting British Standards (BS476: Part 22:1987), sealed with Quelfire sealant and smartly finished in ripple grey. In addition, they are vandal-proof, flush-fitting and self-closing. At the base of the chute, the system is completed with our two-in-one Chute Fire Safe Protection System. Stephen Dean from Jigsaw Homes Group concluded, “We have worked with Avene and her team for over five years now, because they are passionate about quality, professional and deliver a great solution for our residents.”

Avene Furness, entrepreneur and founder of Chute Fire Certification UK has again been selected as a finalist in the prestigious Women in Housing Awards. The awards recognise women that are the leaders, innovators and changemakers across the sector. Avene is a finalist in the ‘Professional of the Year’ category, in recognition of her commitment and passion for quality, safety and professionalism in this sector. Since founding Chute Fire Certification UK, Avene has worked tirelessly to change the narrative in this often-overlooked area of passive fire safety management. Avene personally embarked on a journey of learning, training, and continuous professional development to ensure that she could deliver the highest standards to her customers and their residents. Avene Furness said “Competitors soon found that they could no longer deliver sub-standard work and quickly had to raise their game. I believe that being a woman in this male-dominated environment enables me to bring a more innovative approach to the business. I am completely customer-centric, and this has created the difference that has in turn raised standards across the industry.” The awards take place in Manchester on 27th June 2022, where Avene will join other finalists from organisations across the UK, including borough councils and housing associations. The full shortlist of finalists can be found at: https://www.womeninhousingawards.co.uk/shortlist

First Choice Homes in Oldham uses Chute Fire Certification to replace the refuse chute at Littlemoor House