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Scotland unveils new fire safety guidance for high-rise owners and residents

New fire safety guidance for owners and residents of high-rise buildings in Scotland has been published in an effort to highlight the risks and prevent a tragedy like Grenfell.  

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Picture: Getty
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New guidance for high-rise building owners and residents in Scotland to highlight risks #ukhousing

Residents across 15 local authority areas will receive leaflets on fire safety and prevention #ukhousing

Building owners – including councils, housing associations and private landlords – are being issued with their own guidance which gives advice on preventing fires and reducing the risk of fire in high-rise blocks.

The seven-chapter document includes information on assessing risk and a reminder of the multiple laws on fire safety.

The guidance, produced by the Scottish government and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), is not in itself mandatory.

It comes after Scotland introduced a law in October which means that all new buildings taller than 11 metres must be fitted with cladding that slows and controls the spread of fire.

The change is a response to the Grenfell Tower blaze in which the aluminium composite material cladding was identified by the judge leading the inquiry as the “primary cause of fire spread”.


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Residents in high-rise buildings in Scotland are being given separate leaflets on what to do if there is a fire and how to prevent them starting.

The leaflet reinforces the idea of ‘stay put’, which has proved controversial in the wake of the Grenfell Tower blaze.

It states: “Most high-rise domestic buildings are built with the principle of stay put in mind. This means that flats will be designed to resist the spread of fire. Because of this, a fire is not likely to spread from one flat to another.

“If there is a fire in your building – but not in your flat – you should stay in your home and keep the front door closed unless: you are directly affected by heat, smoke or fire; or the fire service or police tells you to get out.”

The London Fire Brigade was criticised for not abandoning the stay put policy earlier during Grenfell even though it was apparent to onlookers soon after the fire had started that compartmentation had failed and the fire had spread to other flats.

The guidance for residents will also be available in libraries and community centres across all 15 local authorities with the properties.

Ash Denham, Scotland’s community safety minister, said: “The tragic events at Grenfell Tower emphasised how important building and fire safety is. Although we already have stringent regulations in place, we are determined to do everything we can to strengthen the safety of those living in high-rise buildings.”

He added: “It is important that those responsible for fire safety in high-rise buildings also have the most relevant, up-to-date information.”

Assistant chief officer Ross Haggart, director of prevention and protection at the SFRS, said: “Our priority will always be to prevent harm in our communities and save lives and our advice is based on effective fire safety in high-rise premises.

“And while SFRS does not have legislative responsibility for the provision of fire safety measures in buildings, we will and do work with those responsible for the buildings and the tenants to ensure Scotland’s high-rise premises are as safe as possible.”

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