Bristol Council Fire Safety Alarm Installation Faces Year-Long Delay

It has come to light that thousands of council tenants residing in properties deemed at elevated fire risk will experience an additional year’s delay in the installation of fire alarms and sprinklers. Bristol City Council stated that the postponement of implementing fire prevention measures in buildings featuring flammable cladding necessitates an interim expenditure of millions of pounds more on fire wardens. Lib Dem councillor Jos Clark commented, “It’s disappointing and regretful that we’re in this position, with massively rising costs. It’s shameful really, given the financial position we’re in as a city and in the [housing] department.” The council attributed the issues to problems with contracts and supplies, alongside “unfortunate delays due to on-site contractor performance.” The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported that the initiative for installing fire alarms and sprinklers, originally scheduled for completion this September, is now projected to conclude next September. During a meeting held on Friday, members of the housing policy committee sanctioned an additional £2m allocation for ‘waking watch’ fire prevention patrols. These wardens are compensated for patrolling buildings, monitoring for fires, and potentially notifying residents of the necessity to evacuate their residences. Craig Cook, the head of repairs and maintenance, informed the committee that the delays stemmed from “normal contract issues, supply chain issues, issues sourcing materials, as well as unfortunate delays due to on-site contractor performance.” Mr. Cook attributed the delays to contractors proceeding slower than anticipated with fire alarm installations, obstacles in securing sprinkler approval from the Building Safety Regulator, and the evacuation of Barton House last year, which he stated consumed significant time and attention from council personnel. As of 2022, 38 blocks of council flats required the installation of fire alarms. Subsequent progress has occurred, leaving 16 blocks still awaiting new alarm installations. Consequently, due to these delays, the cost for waking watch patrols this year is projected to be £4.5m, exceeding the initial expectation by more than twofold. These patrols were initiated following two fires in 2022. One incident at Twinnell House in Lawrence Hill, caused by an electric bike, resulted in the death of a resident. Another fire at Eccleston House in Barton Hill led to six serious injuries and a man being charged with arson.