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.”
