Safety at Graham Court (main block)

Garston Fire Station (1.08 miles away)

530 St Albans Road

Garston

Hertfordshire

WD24 7RX

 

Want to get in touch?

Telephone the station on 01923 672825.

Request a Home Visit from the Fire Service. During this they check that existing smoke detectors are in good working order as well as give advice on fire safety. 

The latest fire risk assessment (FRA) was completed on: 7th November,2023. This is reviewed every year, or after a significant event.

Significant findings from the last fire risk assessment:

• Door to bin store will be repaired.
• Combustible items must be removed.

When will these works be completed?

• All actions in progress.

The construction of the building is traditional brick and concrete build. The façade meets the requirements to limit the spread of fire.

Other construction components include:

• Block work filled cavity wall. 
• Aluminum powder coated window frames. 
• Balconies at front and back. Balconies are of a concrete construction, steel baluster and handrail with aluminium decking finish.
• The main entrance is to the front of the building, with a rear door opening onto an enclosed garden with a side exit gate. 

Your home is kitted out with safety equipment to keep you and your loved ones safe. This includes:

Fire doors

Your front door is a fire door, protecting you and the rest of your building from fire spreading from one area to another. Fire doors can only do their job when kept shut. 

We need to inspect both sides of your fire door at least once a year. We'll contact you when your check is due, all we ask is that you let us know if you need to rearrange the appointment. 

Top tips to look after your fire door:

• the parts of your door such as the letterbox, peephole, and door closer (self-closing device) are designed to be compatible with your fire door so it can do its job in protecting you - please don't remove or tamper with these!
• Whilst doorbells (including Ring Doorbells) and Christmas wreaths may be pretty and practical, they damage your fire door and stop it from doing its job. Please don't drill into your fire door! 

If your door is damaged or not working as it should, please report it to us immediately on 0800 917 6077.

Watch this video to learn how to check your fire door is in good working order

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms:

These are hard-wired in your flat with backup battery power supply. Please test your alarm weekly - we know it isn't easy pushing the button on the alarm on a ceiling, so we have installed wireless radio link controllers in each flat. This is stored by your front door, but if all else fails you can still test the alarm the traditional way as per the video below. 

If you discover any issues, please call us on 0800 917 6077 immediately.

Sprinklers are installed throughout the communal areas and are monitored 24/7. Each sprinkler protects the area directly below and is activated by heat. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly on the fire.

In addition to your flat, your building is kitted out with safety equipment to keep you and your neighbours safe. This includes:

Fire doors

All doors in the communal area are fire doors. These can only do their job when they are kept shut.

They act as a barrier to help contain the fire to one area and prevent it from spreading. 

We carry out inspections of all communal fire doors every three months. 

Please do not wedge or prop open a fire door as this means smoke and fire can more easily spread!

If you ever notice an issue with a door such as it not closing properly, please contact us immediately on 0800 917 6077. 

Automatic opening vents (AOVs)

These vents remove smoke from the communal corridors if an evacuation is required. 

These are installed throughout every corridor and we test them every month. 

Dry risers

This provides the emergency services with access to pump water into the building in the event of a fire. 

These are tested every six months.

Emergency lighting

This is installed to help support evacuation in the event of an emergency where all other power goes off. 

Premises Information Box (PIB)

This box is located on the outside of the building and contains key information for the fire brigade e.g. floor plans  and locations of services – if you notice that this box has been tampered with please contact us straight away. 

Sprinklers are installed throughout the communal areas and are monitored 24/7. Each sprinkler protects the area directly below and is activated by heat. Only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate, spraying water directly on the fire.

 

If you notice any damage to these items or to the building in general, please let us know as soon as possible!

There is no designated assembly area due to the Stay Put policy. 

If the fire isn't in your own flat and your flat is not affected by smoke from a fire elsewhere in the building

1. stay safe inside your home unless is affected by fire or smoke
2. call the emergency services by dialling 999.

Your flat entrance door is fire rated to protect you for enough time for the fire services to address the fire or rescue you.

If a fire breaks out in your flat

1. Get everyone out
2. Close the door behind you and leave the building - do not take the lift, always use the stairs
3. When you are safe, call 999.

 

You must stay at a safe distance away from the fire until a fire officer tells you it is safe to go back inside. The fire & rescue service can obtain a list of people who may have difficulties leaving the building in an emergency. If you are unsure if you have notified Thrive of any difficulties, please alert the emergency services so they can best assist you.

Don’t wait until it’s too late, plan your escape route today and advise us if you think you might struggle with any evacuation or safety measures.

Please tell us if there is a change to your circumstances, such as a disability or mobility issue, that could prevent you evacuating in the event of an emergency.

We can use this information to notify the local fire service of your circumstances which will allow them to put in place a fast and appropriate evacuation plan to get you to safety. The easiest way to let us know is by emailing fire@thrivehomes.org.uk or 0800 917 6077.

 

Every month, a member of our team will visit your building to make sure everything is safe and well.

You’ll also see our trusted engineers pop by to carry out a number of safety checks when they are due. This may include:

• gas
• electric
• asbestos
• lighting testing
• alarm testing
• water testing
• lift inspections
• fire door inspections.

Copies of these certificates or records are available for you to request.

If you are a tenant, we will carry out gas, electrical and fire door inspections in your home too. We will contact you when these are due.

If you own your Thrive home, please share your recent safety check certificates with us. This information helps us understand how safe your overall building is.

We offer Thrive homeowners a discounted rate on our safety checks, and you can find out more at: thrivehomes.org.uk/homeowner-safety-checks

Ways you can help keep your building safe and service charges down

• Please keep communal areas clear of items, including pushchairs and bicycles.
• Let us know if you won’t be in for any safety check appointments.
• Report any issues you spot to us, including overflowing bins or missed collections.

You can trust us

Your safety comes first, so we make sure our colleagues and contractors are qualified and carry out works to our required standards.

For more information about our approach to keeping you safe in your home, head to: thrivehomes.org.uk/safety-approach