Aico commission comprehensive analysis yet of British fire safety standards
Thursday 20th of January 2022
Tina Mistry from Tpas new members, Aico, introduces their new task force looking at fire safety standards.
At Aico, we are passionate about creating safer homes and communities. We understand the unprecedented pressures and challenges faced by social housing to deliver various agendas from building safety, NetZero, housing quality to delivering more homes.
Collaboration is vital to achieving these goals and ultimately creating safer healthier homes and achieving them whilst balancing the key responsibility of meeting regulatory compliance, as well considering the internal culture complexities.
Despite the key agendas within social housing, it is true resident engagement that is crucial to achieving successful delivery. We’ve chosen to be a member of Tpas as we truly value the great work that Tpas delivers and the long-term difference it makes to residents’ lives through the support work with Local Authorities and Housing Associations. Also, the wealth of knowledge it has about genuine resident engagement. We equally want to support them in their growth but also collaboratively work together to make difference together.
Aico wants to give back to the sector by providing key resources, platforms for discussion, opportunities to collaborate, share best practices, and drive long-term improvements that are needed.
As part of our ethos and to support the Housing Safety and Wellbeing Taskforce we worked in partnership with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), report on Fire Safety, Standards and Regulations across Great Britain. The report is considered to be the most comprehensive analysis yet of British fire safety standards. Analysing the differences in regulations across the UK’s constituent nations, the report identifies how this has led to significant variations in the prevalence of fire across this country and not just the economic impact £1.1billion consequential cost of fire such as fatality, lost earnings, and property damage.
Most importantly the physical and psychological trauma of residents. 18.7% reported subsequent psychological trauma representing an estimated 957,000 adults. Children younger than five years old were the most likely to have experienced trauma in the aftermath of a fire, amounting to 31.8% of those in this category.
The following are some comments from the YouGov survey that was conducted as part of the research:
‘I was 10 years old when the fire occurred in my Mum's house. I had night-mares for months even though it wasn't a serious fire, and even now 50 years on I have to get up during the night if I think that I smell smoke’ ‘
Over 25 years ago we had a house fire. No loss of life or physical injuries but the house was inhabitable. It affected my mental health caused by the trauma and other factors . Took me about 5 years for memories to fade and still can get flash backs now after 25 years. Didn’t have any treatment just got on with my life’ ‘Recurring dreams and anxiety. Insecurity about checking and double-checking appliances, being pedantic about watching toasters when on’
The Housing Safety & Wellbeing Taskforce The official launch of the Housing Safety & Wellbeing Taskforce, which due to Covid-19 precautions, took place online on the 13th January 2022. The Housing Safety & Wellbeing Taskforce is focused on creating a collaborative approach and sharing best practices with a large focus on resident engagement. It will bring together partners from the public, private, and charitable sectors across all nations of the UK to discuss the key issues involved in creating safer homes and making recommendations for action. The Taskforce is independent with strategic direction led by the ambassadors and supported by Aico.
Visit the Housing Safety and Wellbeing Taskforce