M-Four were appointed by Dundee City Council to deliver a comprehensive series of fire safety surveys and undertake a full inspection of refuse chutes located in their multi-storey residential block.
Objective
The overall goal was to generate fire safety surveys as a result of assessments of the building’s compliance with the Fire Scotland Act 2005 and provide a risk rating and recommendations to improve compliance with legislation going forward.
As part of M-Four’s Fire Safety offering, we are committed to ensuring that buildings in Scotland are safe for all residents. Our specialist in house fire safety team carried out the work on this project. Throughout the programme, our extensive knowledge and experience were utilised to deliver quality service.
Refuse Chute Condition Surveys
Refuse chutes experience wear and tear on a daily basis, meaning they require special attention during building safety inspections. Therefore, M-Four focussed on ensuring that refuse chutes conform to British Standards and Building Regulations. To achieve this, we delivered a refuse chute condition survey and a fire risk assessment and a condition assessment for the chute components. The survey provided the client with data results focussed on two key deliverables. Firstly, photographic and written evidence. Secondly, a full compliance report and costed action plan.
During the surveys, our fire safety experts inspected the building as well as elements of the chute system. Our key aim was to evaluate if the chute poses any risks to tenants, staff or the wider public.
Deliverables
On this Dundee City Council project, our team inspected the following areas:
- Bin chute hopper doors, to ensure they are in good working order
- Bin chute smoke seals to ensure they are compliant and intact
- The refuse chute fire plate/damper and fusible link
- Bin chute for damage, penetrations, or snagging
- The bin room to ensure it is clear and safe from potential arson
- Full Refuse Chute Risk Assessment which includes bin room analysis and fire risk assessment recommendations
Outcome
We used a high-quality videography system to carry out the refuse chute inspection. Our specialists completed all tracking from this fire safety survey using our inspection survey app. The fire safety reports provided details of the work carried out, the state of the refuse chute, and recommendations for work to be carried out going forward.
Once the project was complete, M-Four’s assessment team handed over the finalised report to Dundee City Council with detailed guidance on the next steps and the required work on the building.
Find out more
See our Fire Safety page for more information on our services or get in touch with our specialist consultants.