JamesMoore-Square-800x800-NEWheadshot-23

Managing Editor, IFSEC Insider

Author Bio ▼

James Moore is the Managing Editor of IFSEC Insider, the leading online publication for security and fire news in the industry. James writes, commissions, edits and produces content for IFSEC Insider, including articles, breaking news stories and exclusive industry reports. He liaises and speaks with leading industry figures, vendors and associations to ensure security and fire professionals remain abreast of all the latest developments in the sector.
December 6, 2022

Download

Whitepaper: Enhancing security, resilience and efficiency across a range of industries

Cladding

Thousands to be spent on replacing cladding at university accommodation in Kent

The façade on an accommodation building owned by Canterbury Christ Church University is set to be replaced following a fire that broke out last year which showed the cladding could “encourage flames to spread”.

The news was reported on Kent Online on Saturday 3 November, as it was revealed that university bosses will have to fork out thousands to replace the cladding on Petros Court.

The overall sum is undisclosed, but the cladding will have to be reapplied at a different angle, as the way it was originally designed was found to potentially encourage the spread of a fire.

A fire broke out in a third floor flat a year ago at the accommodation block. While everyone was safely evacuated development firm Kember Loudon Williams confirmed that the upcoming changes were to “improve performance in the event of a fire”.

Changing legislation requirements

The university, which owns the building, said that changes in the law around cladding had resulted in the work to be carried out – likely referring to the Building Safety Act 2022 which puts the responsibility in the hands of building owners for remediating cladding.

A spokesperson from the university commented: “Following recent changes to legislation, and as part of our ongoing commitment to fire safety and the welfare of our students, we have conducted various investigations and risk assessments on our buildings.

“As a result, we have identified works that need to be carried out to ensure that Petros Court meets the very highest fire safety standards. We are continuing to work with our students and partners to ensure Petros Court remains the safest environment for everyone.”

This is just one of many instances where buildings are undergoing the replacement or removal of cladding from façades.

In November, the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow begun a £33 million project to remove cladding from the exterior of its building, following advice from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service where “panels used as wall lining” were found to pose a fire risk. The work isn’t expected to be finished until 2027.

 

EBOOK: Lessons from FIREX 2023 – Emerging challenges in fire safety

Read our FREE eBook, which provides a summary of the key debates and presentations that took place at FIREX 2023 in May, alongside additional exclusive content for readers.

Chapters cover new fire safety construction guidance, how to mitigate the risk of lithium-ion battery fires, and evacuation planning. There's also exclusive insight into the resident's view of the building safety crisis, and how the fire safety and sustainability agendas can work together.

Firex2023-ebookCover-23

Related Topics

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments