Grenfell 8 Years On: What Remedies Are Available to You?
Grenfell 8 Years On: What Remedies Are Available to You?
14th June 2025 marks eight years since Grenfell and question marks remain over fire safety in residential blocks, with few sensible and practical solutions available.
More recently we’ve had Awaab’s Law – another that demands wide ranging compliance over a vast estate, but precious little help for those tasked with carrying out the necessary inspections.
A quick Google using the search term ‘fire door safety blocks of flats’ revealed recent news stories where there was cause for concern. There are two tower blocks on Merseyside that are being patrolled constantly as there has been a breach of fire safety regulations, costing a reputed £3,000 a day.
And there are the enforcement notices served to Brighton & Hove City Council after fire issues were discovered at 10 blocks of flats. Also in the press are reports of fire doors frequently malfunctioning during fire drills at blocks of flats within Greenwich borough.
Yet there is no question that councils and housing associations are taking fire safety in residential settings more seriously since Grenfell. And hearteningly, there is much more guidance, advice and support available.
For example, the Government published a new guide for agents, building managers and block owners, designed to improve fire safety in blocks of up to three stories high and containing up to six flats. The Guide to Compliance with Fire Safety Law for Those Responsible for Safety in Small Blocks of Flats is a document Viewber constantly refers to as it continues to deliver its on-demand fire safety check services.
This document complements the Building Safety Act 2022 and The Fire Safety Act 2021, which were both introduced following the post-Grenfell public enquiry and the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety. These laws extend to protect residents in high rise residential towers of seven storeys or higher.
The Fire Safety Act 2021 is of particular interest to Viewber as it stipulates the person in control of a building with two or more domestic residences (known as the responsible person) should ensure fire risk assessments cover the interior, structure, external walls and doors within a residential block.
The Act also urges the responsible person to undertake regular fire risk assessments and this responsibility is often delegated to the property or facility manager. And what a huge responsibility it is.
With the Grenfell anniversary weighing heavily on our minds, we remain proud to be helping property managers, facility managers, landlords and housing associations – responsible for all types and tenures of residential property – to meet fire safety compliance.
Here’s a timely reminder of the fire safety check services Viewber offers to our property partners:
- 5-point fire door safety check*
Certified safety checks on fire doors, looking for notable gaps or acts of vandalism, checking for damage to seals and hinges, and observing the opening/closure mechanism. A visual-led report is subsequently filed to the client.
Routine safety checks are vital to avoid tragedies, as poorly performing fire doors were a contributing factor to the devastating Grenfell fire. The expert witness, Dr Barbara Lane, highlighted issues not only with the doors themselves but also with fire door inspections and maintenance, which was seriously disjointed and lacking in consistency. A sobering reminder of the fire door errors detailed in the Grenfell enquiry can be found here.
- Smoke and CO2 alarm checks
Visit any property to identify, photograph and complete audible tests on all smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. This is a critical, legal and lifesaving action for anyone managing properties in the social and private rental sectors.
- Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment
Commission a Viewber to carry out a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment (PCFRA), as recommended by UK Fire Brigades. This is an essential action if there are vulnerable tenants in a block or building.
A Viewber will visit the tenant at home, evaluating their circumstances and identifying potential risks. The result will influence whether a Personalised Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) needs to be created.
Complete your fire safety checks with confidence
Our fire safety checks can be commissioned as stand-alone services or they can be combined to create a more comprehensive fire safety compliance programme. Advantages of using Viewber include:
- UK-wide coverage, with a Viewber local to every block, tower, house and flat in the country
- Out-of-hours availability, with the capacity to meet tenants and visit properties at more beneficial times, such as evenings, weekends and on Bank Holidays
- Key collection/drop off service so you don’t lose desk time
- Facility to book a Viewber for an entire day to complete multiple checks at one or several locations
- Let-in and lock up facility – ensure trades and fire safety experts always have access to any given block or property
- Easy-to-use dashboard for bookings, reports and feedback access
- Pay only for the services you use – a budget-friendly way of reducing overheads, with clear fixed prices
- No minimum spend – book fire safety checks when it suits your workload and maintenance schedules
- Stay ahead of compliance via one dashboard – nationally
Viewber’s fire safety checks can become an integral part of your risk assessment, health and safety compliance and maintenance programme, ensuring you avoid the shortcomings highlighted in the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.
Please contact Viewber to open an account and learn more about our fire safety checks.
*Fire door checks do not provide recommendations for repairs or remedial work. Where the checks identify any issues, repairs to, or replacement of, any fire door must be undertaken by a competent contractor
