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By the end of 2025:
- The University Fire Safety Management policy will have been updated and communicated to departments to reflect the new arrangements for fire risk assessments and training so that expectations are clear. Departments will be required to complete an assurance exercise in November to demonstrate how they comply.
- More people will be more aware of the fire risk and what can be done locally, as part of people’s daily lives, to decrease the likelihood of a fire starting and its impact. More people will be skilled to know how to tackle a fire should it occur, and how to exit quickly and safely. By the end of 2025, the new fire scenario training is expected to have trained 800 members of staff across the University.
- 25/72 of substantial risk buildings (mostly lab buildings) and 41/125 moderate risk buildings will have been fire risk assessed by 2 newly appointed fire risk assessors, and the University’s understanding of the areas for action will improve. Strategies detailing fire safety features and their management will be in place for those buildings.
- This risk assessment information will inform a programme of Estates work, with some initial work starting to address building fabric matters (eg compartmentation) on a priority basis, as well as areas for local attention that are not dependent on Estates work. This will be supported by a dedicated project manager.
- A new software solution will record the findings of the assessment and tracking of subsequent remedial action. This is an important aspect of demonstrating compliance and ensuring action.
- As a result, staff, students and visitors will be safer. The University will be able to better demonstrate compliance, particularly with our duty to undertake ‘suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment’, as well as identifying and remediating any other areas of discovered non-compliance regarding fire.
By the end of 2026:
- At least 47/72 of substantial risk buildings (mostly lab buildings) and 83/125 moderate risk buildings will have been fire risk assessed.
- Estates work will be underway to address building fabric matters on a prioritised basis (£4m is currently ringfenced for this work over 4 years).
- Local actions, not dependent on Estates work, will be underway with connected activities coordinated through divisional safety committees and the Safety Network Steering Group.
By the end of 2027:
- All 72 substantial risk buildings and 125 moderate risk buildings will have been subject to a ‘suitable and sufficient’ fire risk assessment.
- The funding for the new fire risk assessors expires at 3 years, so plans will have been established for maintaining these fire risk assessments.
- Estates work will be well underway to address building fabric matters on a prioritised basis (£4m is currently ringfenced for this work over 4 years).
- Local actions, not dependent on Estates work, will be well underway with connected activities coordinated through divisional safety committees and the Safety Network Steering Group
Area for discussion for SEG:
- Completion of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for all substantial and moderate risk buildings will take up to 3 years. Are SEG comfortable with this timeframe and the residual risk?
- Note that speeding up the fire risk assessment process means more demand for Estates (funding, contractor availability, impact on academic timetables), as well as departments including local fire officers and facility managers.
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