SOUTH YORKSHIRE Fire and Rescue Service (SYFRS) will inspect four high rises in the city with what was termed ‘risky’ cladding.
Last week, SYFRS confirmed it would deploy a fire safety team to inspect all of the region’s high rise residential tower blocks by the end of 2021. The plans to inspect ‘all high-rise residential tower blocks’ will see the fire safety team – funded by a government grant – inspect all buildings 18m or taller or with six or more storeys ‘as part of a programme launched in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire’. The inspections will assess fire safety measures in each block.
SYFRS’ area manager and head of prevention and protection Simon Dunker commented: ‘Our aim, between now and the end of next year, is to physically inspect every high rise residential building in South Yorkshire. We hope this work will provide reassurance to residents we are continuing to work to effect changes identified by the Grenfell inquiry and that resident safety remains our priority. We will work with building owners and managers to ensure any necessary work is carried out.’
Planet Radio has now reported that four blocks in Sheffield are to be investigated by SYFRS as they have ‘risky cladding or insulation’, including the Metis building in the city centre which has aluminium composite material cladding. Residents of the blocks were worried, with one telling the news outlet that cladding on his building failed post Grenfell fire safety tests.
He added: ‘I felt shocked to say the least. I was shocked that this hadn’t been brought up at any point during my lengthy time of buying the flat. You find out you’ve got all these problems and you’re the one who’s going to foot the bill. I don’t think anybody’s going to feel safe if you’re told they’ve got a building that could go up in 15 minutes. We’ve had to spend more time than ever this year at home - I would have been safer working in an office surely.
‘I’ve acted in good faith, putting my money into this place to build myself a future. You just feel let down. You feel like everybody else has jumped ship - everybody that’s put this place together - and I’m just left sinking. Just getting these bills, you’ve got a shadow hanging over you the whole time you're living here. And there’s nothing I feel like I can do about it hence we’ve joined together and started this group to unite leaseholders.
‘If you were to go and work in any workplace and it was deemed unsafe there’d be things happening about it. I’ve been working from home this whole year - my workspace isn’t safe but now I’m being told I’m the one going to have to fork out for it. Who knows how many buildings there are out there which can’t get insurance or should be seen as highly risky but haven’t actually had the test yet.
‘I think this is a sleeping giant which is going to awaken and it’s going to cause some people some real distress. Take a look at the Sheffield skyline - there are so many of these buildings out there.’
SYFRS responded: ‘We’re very aware of these buildings and our recently launched Building Risk Review team is currently looking into the various issues that have been identified. This team is made up of specialist fire safety inspectors who are committed to working with building owners and managers to ensure any necessary work is carried out. Residents should be assured that their safety is always our top priority.’