FREP answers Sept 19
Question No: 2019/14539
Andrew Dismore
How many tall residential buildings constructed on GLA land have had sprinklers or other automated fire suppression systems fitted?
Answer for Sprinklers on GLA land
The Mayor
Last updated: 23 July, 2019
Officers are drafting a response
Sprinklers on GLA land
The Mayor
Last updated: 08 October, 2019
The GLA does not retain this information, however all tall residential buildings must comply with building codes and regulations relating to the installation of fixed and portal fire equipment. Local Authority Building Control Officers also ensure that buildings are designed and constructed in accordance with building regulations and associated legislation.
Evaluation of new firefighting equipment
Question No: 2019/17629
Andrew Dismore
The under-trial drone, PPV ventilation, and Cobra lance showed their worth at the 15 pump fire in Westbourne Grove on 12th August. When will we see the outcome of the evaluation and when will see procurement of this equipment for wider availability?
Evaluation of new firefighting equipment
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
The drone trial, using hired drones, has enabled London Fire Brigade (LFB) to understand how to use the drones most effectively as well as how many and what type of drones could be needed in the future. LFB currently has two drones in service. An outcome and future recommendations paper will be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Safety and Assurance in October 2019.
The LFB Specialist Entry Recovery Team (SERT) currently use both Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) and Ultra High Pressure Lance (UHPL) technology at incidents. The Operational Policy team has developed proposals that recommend a trial conducted over three phases which, if successful, could lead to the widespread introduction into service on frontline appliances. Alternatives to UHPL technology, such as fog nails, are also being considered, and the evidence from this work will be considered alongside the evaluation of the PPV and UHPL trials in 2020.
Government target for remediating buildings with ACM cladding (1)
Question No: 2019/17630
Andrew Dismore
On 18 July, James Brokenshire MP, who was secretary of state at MHCLG at the time, said that all social sector buildings with ACM cladding should be fixed by Christmas 2019. How many buildings will the GLA’s administration of the social sector cladding remediation fund have to cover between 12 September 2019 and December 31 2019, that have not already been allocated funding, in order to meet this target?
Government target for remediating buildings with ACM cladding (1)
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
Based on the estimated dates of completion from social landlords, this commitment will not be met. It was an unrealistic and irresponsible deadline.
Government target for remediating buildings with ACM cladding (2)
Question No: 2019/17631
Andrew Dismore
On 18 July, James Brokenshire MP, who was secretary of state at MHCLG at the time, said that all social sector buildings with ACM cladding should be fixed by Christmas 2019. How many dwellings are contained in buildings that the GLA’s administration of the social sector cladding remediation fund have to cover between 12 September 2019 and December 31 2019, that have not already been allocated funding?
Government target for remediating buildings with ACM cladding (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
Based on the estimated dates of completion from social landlords, this commitment will not be met. It was an unrealistic and irresponsible deadline.
Government target for remediating buildings with ACM cladding (3)
Question No: 2019/17632
Andrew Dismore
On 18 July, James Brokenshire MP, who was secretary of state at MHCLG at the time, said that all private sector buildings with ACM cladding should be fixed by June 2020. How many buildings will the GLA’s administration of the private sector cladding remediation fund have to cover from 12 September 2019 to June 30 2020, that have not already been allocated funding, in order to meet this target?
Government target for remediating buildings with ACM cladding (3)
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
The Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund will open for applications later this month. The June 2020 commitment to remediate all buildings was irresponsible and unrealistic – the Government will fail to meet its own deadline.
Supply chain pressures, delays in the Government creating this fund, Brexit, the complexity of the fund process as designed by MHCLG, and the fundamental fact that buildings owners control the pace of remediation, means this deadline is entirely unachievable.
Government target for remediating buildings with ACM cladding (4)
Question No: 2019/17633
Andrew Dismore
On 18 July, James Brokenshire MP, who was secretary of state at MHCLG at the time, said that all private sector buildings with ACM cladding should be fixed by June 2020. How many dwellings are contained in buildings that the GLA’s administration of the private sector cladding remediation fund have to cover between 12 September 2019 and 30 June 2020, that have not already been allocated funding?
Government target for remediating buildings with ACM cladding (4)
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
The Government estimates that 80 London buildings will be eligible for funding. The GLA’s role begins when an applicant comes forward. The Government, not the GLA, is responsible for ensuring buildings apply to the fund. The fund will open for applications later this month.
GLA administration of the private sector cladding remediation fund (1)
Question No: 2019/17634
Andrew Dismore
How many dwellings are contained in the buildings to which the GLA has allocated funding for the remediation of ACM cladding in the private sector?
GLA administration of the private sector cladding remediation fund (1)
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
The Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund will open for applications later this month.
GLA administration of the private sector cladding remediation fund (2)
Question No: 2019/17635
Andrew Dismore
How many private sector buildings have had funding allocated from the cladding remediation fund administered by the GLA and what is the total value of this allocation?
GLA administration of the private sector cladding remediation fund (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
The Private Sector Cladding Remediation Fund will open for applications later this month.
Funding sprinklers through the Housing Revenue Account
Question No: 2019/17636
Andrew Dismore
On 18 July, James Brokenshire MP, who was secretary of state at MHCLG at the time, said: “The Housing Revenue Account borrowing cap was abolished on 29th October 2018, giving freedom to local authorities to help finance unforeseen capital repairs programmes, such as retro-fitting sprinklers”. What is your view on councils using the HRA headroom for this purpose?
Funding sprinklers through the Housing Revenue Account
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
I have written many times to the Secretary of State calling for the Government to fund the retrofitting of sprinklers or other suitable fire suppression systems as part of a risk-based approach, and to respond to the LFB’s call for sprinklers to be made mandatory in all new residential tower blocks.
Using the Housing Revenue Account headroom to fund the retrofitting of sprinklers would impact councils’ capacity to deliver affordable homes and fund other much needed services. I will therefore continue to lobby Government to make funding available for the retrofitting of sprinklers in existing buildings, especially those at high risk or accommodating vulnerable people.
Support with energy bills during ACM remediation works
Question No: 2019/17637
Andrew Dismore
In response to question 2019/12230, you stated that the average financial benefit to households participating in the fuel poverty support fund was £169 per year. Will you ensure that residents of buildings undergoing remediation of ACM cladding are aware of this service and able to access its benefits?
Support with energy bills during ACM remediation works
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
My Warmer Homes Advice Service (previously the Fuel Poverty Support Fund) is open to any fuel poor Londoner in any tenure. We are already working with social landlords to offer advice and support to vulnerable households in these buildings. We will also suggest that applicants to the Private Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund inform residents of the service and where affected leaseholders get in touch with the GLA directly, my team will ensure they are notified of the service.
Incidence of cancer among firefighters
Question No: 2019/17638
Andrew Dismore
What is the prevalence of cancers among current and former LFB firefighters, and what proportion of those are work related?
Incidence of cancer among firefighters
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
London Fire Brigade does not maintain a registry of existing or former employees who have had cancer and so is unable to provide data on the prevalence of cancer among firefighters.
From 2006 to date the Brigade has settled injury claims with the families of 35 former members of staff who died of mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos at work, all of whom commenced employment before 1982.
For cancers to be associated with the firefighter occupation the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) states that there needs to be evidence showing that ‘it is more likely than not’ that the cancer was caused by workplace exposure to a specific substance. In practice, this requires the risk to be shown to have more than doubled, otherwise, a positive connection cannot be associated with the work activities or workplace exposures of the occupational group. Any such cancer would be recommended as a prescribed industrial disease in the UK. No cancers have been formally linked with the firefighter occupation in the UK.
Speed of remediation buildings with ACM cladding (1)
Question No: 2019/17639
Andrew Dismore
For buildings in the social sector where the GLA has administered the cladding remediation fund, what is the average time between a) a plan being put in place for ACM cladding remediation to remediation works beginning, b) remediation works starting to remediation works completing, and c) from a plan being put in place to remediation works finishing?
Speed of remediation buildings with ACM cladding (1)
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
For buildings where the GLA is administering the Social Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund, the average estimated time between remediation works beginning (start on site for cladding replacement) and remediation works completing is eight months. This is based on estimated dates of completion because remediation work is ongoing in most cases.
The GLA does hold the other data requested.
Speed of remediation buildings with ACM cladding (2)
Question No: 2019/17640
Andrew Dismore
For buildings in the private sector where the GLA has administered the cladding remediation fund, what is the average time between a) a plan being put in place for ACM cladding remediation to remediation works beginning, b) remediation works starting to remediation works completing, and c) from a plan being put in place to remediation works finishing?
Answer for Speed of remediation buildings with ACM cladding (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
Officers are drafting a response
Question No: 2019/17641
Andrew Dismore
How many buildings in London have interim simultaneous evacuation procedures in place at the present time, and in each year since the Grenfell Tower fire? Please break this down by private sector and social sector and by borough.
Simultaneous evacuations (1)
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
The number of premises that have temporarily moved to a simultaneous evacuation strategy has changed at regular intervals over the last two years as premises have been remediated and others have been added to the list as issues have arisen. The readily available data held by London Fire Brigade does not capture the dates at which buildings were added or removed from the list, so it is not possible to provide a yearly breakdown for these premises. However, the requested breakdown for the current list of premises is provided below:
| Total number of premises that have temporarily changed from stay put to simultaneous evacuation | 216 |
| Private | 144 |
| Social (Housing Association + Local Authority) | 72 |
| Barking and Dagenham total | 3 |
| Barking and Dagenham private | 2 |
| Barking and Dagenham social | 1 |
| Barnet total | 2 |
| Barnet private | 1 |
| Barnet social | 1 |
| Brent total | 26 |
| Brent private | 15 |
| Brent social | 11 |
| Bromley total | 1 |
| Bromley social | 1 |
| Camden total | 4 |
| Camden private | 3 |
| Camden social | 1 |
| City of London total | 1 |
| City of London private | 1 |
| Croydon total | 5 |
| Croydon private | 4 |
| Croydon social | 1 |
| Ealing total | 4 |
| Ealing private | 4 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham total | 2 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham social | 2 |
| Greenwich total | 26 |
| Greenwich private | 26 |
| Hackney total | 21 |
| Hackney private | 3 |
| Hackney social | 18 |
| Haringey total | 2 |
| Haringey social | 2 |
| Harrow total | 1 |
| Harrow private | 1 |
| Havering total | 1 |
| Havering private | 1 |
| Hillingdon total | 1 |
| Hillingdon private | 1 |
| Hounslow total | 2 |
| Hounslow private | 2 |
| Islington total | 5 |
| Islington private | 1 |
| Islington social | 4 |
| Kensington and Chelsea total | 4 |
| Kensington and Chelsea private | 2 |
| Kensington and Chelsea social | 2 |
| Lambeth total | 2 |
| Lambeth social | 2 |
| Lewisham total | 5 |
| Lewisham private | 3 |
| Lewisham social | 2 |
| Newham total | 21 |
| Newham private | 15 |
| Newham social | 6 |
| Richmond total | 1 |
| Richmond total | 1 |
| Southwark total | 14 |
| Southwark private | 5 |
| Southwark total | 9 |
| Tower Hamlets total | 32 |
| Tower Hamlets private | 29 |
| Tower Hamlets social | 3 |
| Waltham Forest total | 1 |
| Waltham Forest social | 1 |
| Wandsworth total | 15 |
| Wandsworth private | 13 |
| Wandsworth social | 2 |
| Westminster total | 14 |
| Westminster private | 14 |
Question No: 2019/17642
Andrew Dismore
How many dwellings are contained in buildings in London that have interim simultaneous evacuation procedures in place at the present time, and in each year since the Grenfell Tower fire? Please break this down by private sector and social sector and by borough.
Simultaneous evacuations (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
The readily available data held by London Fire Brigade (LFB) for premises that have temporarily moved to a simultaneous evacuation strategy does not capture the number of individual dwellings in each building. Individual premises files provide further detailed information to inform the work of LFB officers, but this is not in a readily-reportable format.
Use of sections 77 and 78 of the Building Act 1984
Question No: 2019/17643
Andrew Dismore
At FREP committee on 18 July, use of s77 and s78 of the Building Act 1984 was suggested as a route for local authorities to force recalcitrant building owners to take action on flammable cladding. What discussions has the GLA and LFB had with local authorities, the Health and Safety Executive, and other relevant bodies, on this matter?
Use of sections 77 and 78 of the Building Act 1984
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
The Government has set up the Joint Inspection Team (JIT) to provide support to local authorities to use their enforcement powers where the building owner is reluctant to remediate. My team continue to engage with London Boroughs and support their work where possible, but it is not the GLA’s role to advise other bodies on enforcement.
London Fire Brigade has made representations to Government to stress the urgency in getting this matter resolved and for consideration to be made of additional measures that could be introduced to support the removal of unsafe cladding systems.
Audits of building fire safety
Question No: 2019/17644
Andrew Dismore
At FREP committee on 18 July, LFB stated they were carrying out in-depth audits of building safety on a sample of cases from recent years. Of the cases so far examined, how many reach a) a good / high standard, and b) a poor / inadequate standard?
Audits of building fire safety
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
The in-depth audit of fire engineered buildings carried out by London Fire Brigade (LFB) involved a review of 20 buildings and took a qualitative approach, considering systems from smoke control to the management of the building. Only one building could be considered to reach a high standard that would be meet the expected good management of active and passive fire protection measures – for example, having no apparent issues with compartmentation and having working detection and smoke control systems – coupled with good management of the building by the Responsible Person.
Individual buildings highlighted different issues of concern. For example, significant active fire protection measures issues were noted in 12 out of the 20 buildings with smoke control systems, whereas 13 out of 20 had issues relating to the building management. All issues identified were communicated to the Responsible Person so that they could be dealt with, and their resolution was monitored by the engineer who undertook the review.
Availability of environmental health officers
Question No: 2019/17645
Andrew Dismore
What is the average time taken between the brigade contacting a local authority Environmental Health Officer regarding concerns over a building, and the consequent investigation visit being carried out?
Availability of environmental health officers
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
Response times for Environmental Health Officers are a matter for individual Local Authorities and not something that London Fire Brigade records.
Correspondence following the Lakanal House fire
Question No: 2019/17646
Andrew Dismore
Please provide copies of all correspondence to local authorities and housing associations referenced in response to question 2019/14532
Answer for Correspondence following the Lakanal House fire
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
Officers are drafting a response
Question No: 2019/17647
Andrew Dismore
At FREP committee on 18 July 2019, the committee was told: “Over two years ago we [LFB] provided recommendations around the design of that building that was unsafe and we would not support the development. The development has nonetheless gone ahead”. In how many cases in each year from 2016 to the present has this happened?
Buildings judged unsafe
The Mayor
Last updated: 17 September, 2019
Examples of this type are not routinely captured by London Fire Brigade (LFB). While it is a legal requirement for a building control body to issue the fire and rescue service with a final/completion certificate for a building, at present this is not reconciled with the LFB premises file. This process is currently being reviewed.
The expectation has been that the concerns and observations of LFB would be actioned and supported by building control officers, who have responsibility for assessing compliance with building regulations, but there is currently no process for reconciling significant differences in opinion on building control consultations, nor any requirement to act on fire and rescue service advice.
The recent anecdotal evidence of the LFB Fire Engineering Group when dealing with complex building schemes is that there has been an increase in building control bodies that appear to not be acting on Brigade advice and recommendations. LFB has highlighted this issue in its responses to Government consultations and called for this situation to change.
