Retrospective Fire Strategy for High Risk Block of Flats

[Suttonfire]

Hi,

I've just become aware of situation where a fire risk assessment has been completed for a high rise block of flats. The client has then instructed a contractor to carry out the works recommended. A consultant for the contractor appointed is insisting that a retrospective fire strategy for the block must be produced before any works can be undertaken.

Why would this be needed for an existing block of flats? There are no fire engineered systems in the building and no staff. Surely if a good FRA has been carried out, which has not raised any doubts in relation to compartmentation, the suitability of the stay put strategy etc, then this can be used to work from?

I can not see any recommendation in the PBF fire safety guide setting out that a retrospective fire strategy should be developed prior to risk reduction measures being implemented.

[AnthonyB]

Are they offering to do the work for a fee?

Seriously, if the building is going to be under the scope of the Building Safety Bill they have a point as existing buildings will require to comply (as far as is possible for an already built site) and a fire strategy could form part of the mandatory Safety Case & Golden Thread requirements, so perhaps they are covering themselves by operating in the vein that the new regime would expect.

Take the BSB out of the equation and I'd agree, whilst desirable, it wouldn't be a requirement for this work.

[Suttonfire]

Thanks for the response.

Yes apparently the consultant has quoted circa ?50k to produce this retrospective fire strategy! In a block of flats with a typical design and build, no staff, and fire engineered systems etc in place.

[AnthonyB]

?50k!  I'll do it for ?25k!

I'd expect a full intrusive survey thrown in at that price - I assume there is no fa?ade consultancy and testing required - if there was the fee might seem a bit less far fetched.

[Dinnertime Dave]

Have you considered that that don?t actually want the work. They quote a ridiculous price thinking that you won?t ask them to do the work. If you do?. Well. 

[AnthonyB]

True, but it's a weird way of doing it - if the passive people didn't want it their quote would have been crazy (seen this before) if they did their consultant is doing themselves any favours by pricing out the strategy side as it risks the client simply cutting them both out and finding a less picky passive firm.

Trying to overprice work you don't work does sometimes backfire & whilst is ultimately a nice earner when it does the job is usually such a pain you wish you'd simply declined to tender!