Inadequate Fire Risk Assessments - Who's to Blame?

[TallyHo]

The link below states that three quarters of housing providers do not think their tower blocks have been assessed correctly.

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/tenancies/landlords-admit-high-rise-fire-risk/6516423.article

So who’s to blame?
1.  Assessment companies carrying out assessments for next to nothing?
2.  The F&RS Inspectors for not policing them properly?
3.  The housing providers who want their assessments done for next to nothing?

In most tender contract awards the client chooses the contractor on 60% cost/40% quality; so what do they expect?

In a recent example a local authority tendered for 2,081 assessments to be carried out in residential properties; the contract was awarded on the following criteria.

INFORMATION ON VALUE OF CONTRACT
Initial estimated (by the housing authority) total value of the contract
Value 312 150 GBP
Total final value of the contract
Value 154 990 GBP

This equates to around £74 per assessment; these housing authorities want their assessments to be carried out for next to nothing then complain when they aren’t suitable or sufficient.

[nearlythere]

I wouldn't even get out of bed for £74.

[Tom W]

Likewise I would never go so low as £74

you pay peanuts........

[John]

I'm not defending local authorities who want to pay peanuts, or indeed the assessors who are willing to put their reputations on the line for peanuts, but how may of you would agree that if 2081 assessments are carried out on this tender, approximately 2000 of them will be exactly the same content, with a different heading.

Cut / copy & paste has a lot to answer for.

[Tom W]

So do you think assessors know they aren't up to it? Are the pressured into accepting it from their bosses? Do they actually think they have done a good job?

Do they think it doesn't matter? Are they worried about job security and so don't want to rock the boat by saying no?

[Fishy]

It's easy to berate them for this, but if they've drawn up their requirements specification, put it out to tender, & the responses that come back credibly show that those responding are able to fulfil the stated requirements then they are more or less duty-bound to accept the lowest quote.  They could be subject to intense criticism that they're not spending public money wisely if they don't. 

The real trick is getting the requirements specification right, & then rigidly enforcing the technical & contractual requirements once the supplier has been appointed.  If they do this, then it's the supplier who should suffer for going in at a silly price.

[kurnal]

Was doing a student accommodation block in Islington today for a regular customer. Started at 9 and mid morning in walks a guy in a sharp suit to give a price for fire alarm maintenance. He asked me what i was doing- a fire risk assessment. Oh we do those as well says he, I will quote for that whilst I am doing. Fine says I.

I was still there at 4 pm when he came back to drop off his quote. "Gosh you still here" he said in surprise. "Our chaps would do a place like this in an hour or two".

[Davo]

Hi Prof

Hope you fed the horse on your way out, wouldn't want animal welfare after you, eh


davo

[colin todd]

With regard to who is to blame, I blame the English education system.

[kurnal]

I blame Antoninus Pius. He should never have abandoned that wall.

[colin todd]

Just as well he did or there would not have been so many Scots to rush to the aid of your ancestors Big Al, when Hitler invaded Poland.

[CivvyFSO]

I blame the English education system.

I am not sure that 'system' is the correct word. In fact using the word 'education' is stretching it a bit at the moment.

[colin todd]

You are right, Civvy. I shall rephrase it thus:

I blame the English.

[Midland Retty]

You are right, Civvy. I shall rephrase it thus:

I blame the English.

That's better Col 

[Wiz]

You are right, Civvy. I shall rephrase it thus:

I blame the English.

Funny how many Scots have a chip on their shoulder regarding the English, whereas most of the English can hardly work up enough energy to complain about how incredibly unfairly the Scots treat the English!  A Scot in England is treated as well/poorly as anyone else. An Englishman in Scotland is liable to be treated to a 'Glasgow kiss'.
Anyway, it doesn't bother me, I'm British (or a United Kingdomite as some Americans insist on calling us), and so is my Swedish wife!