PS&B celebrated the addition of a block and estate management offering to their Portsmouth office with a sky-high event at the iconic Spinnaker Tower last month.
Guests – who were predominantly RMC directors – were treated to an array of delicious canapés that certainly lived up to expectations. A straw poll revealed the smoked salmon tartlets as crowd favourites, winning over hearts and stomachs alike.
Beyond the allure of the free bar and delicious food, attendees were captivated by a presentation on the latest trends in fire and building safety. Hosted jointly by RiskBase and Peak Fire Safety, the discussion delved into evolving approaches and legislative updates affecting buildings of all sizes - not just those towering over 11 or 18 meters.
Central to the conversation was a new article in the Fire Safety Order and a draft British Standard for fire risk assessment, indicating a shift towards elevated standards and emphasising information transparency and resident engagement.
Adam Sanders (RiskBase) and Tom Welland (Peak Fire) together shed light on additional requirements outlined in the Building Safety Act and Fire Safety (England) Regulations. While these may not directly affect smaller blocks, it's evident that the criteria for what once qualified as "suitable and sufficient" is already evolving.
They also touched on how new Home Office guidance for small blocks of flats will demand a systematic and efficient approach for implementation at scale. This includes the crucial aspect of identifying not only our leaseholders but the residents within our buildings.
Though the canapés have vanished into memory, the insights shared by RiskBase and Peak Fire remain ever-relevant.
If you'd like to arrange a similar presentation for your property managers or clients, RiskBase are often able to host these free of charge over Teams. If you're interested, reach out to Adam Sanders on LinkedIn or email hello@riskbase.uk.
In the meantime, NOTB’s next Knowledge Bank is hosted by Adam Sanders on 28th March, 10am, on the subject of building safety cases. Sign up here.
