Block Management UK handles Grenfell-style cladding issue

Block Management UK's handling of a Grenfell-style cladding issue at one of the properties it manages has prompted an article in the East Anglian Daily Times.

Journalist Emily Townsend interviewed both Block Management UK's Managing Director David Collinson, as well as its Operations Director Simon Matthews at our Ipswich offices about St Francis Tower, Ipswich.

The 172 ft tower is Suffolk's tallest residential tower block. Built in 1962, it was extensively refurbished 12 years ago. Block Management UK took over property management duties in 2016 since then spent a great deal of time and energy turning around the many complex issues surrounding the troubled block.

As the article points out, hours after news of the Grenfell tragedy broke, bosses in charge of St Francis Tower held a meeting to review safety there.

Officials then had cladding from St Francis Tower sent off for testing within two weeks of the service being offered by the government and their approved testing facility, the BRE.

Fire assessments commissioned by BMUK and the building's owner concluded the cladding should be stripped to "mitigate risk".

Mr Matthews was quoted as saying: "I can tell you it's not ACM (aluminium composite material) cladding, however, the combination of the cladding that's in place, with the insulation, and overall installation, is in question"

Working closely with Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, BMUK has put into action several safeguards at the property:

• Four man waking watch installed - fully qualified staff carrying air horns put in place to safely simultaneously evacuate people floor by floor
• Fire extinguishers put in place throughout building
• Meetings and information events held with people living at the tower and leaseholders
• Bin store fire doors replaced by made-to-measure fire doors and fitted frames
• Damaged external vent to laundry room repaired
• Up-to-date fire action notices posted to all letter boxes and leaseholders
• Details of emergency fire procedures clearly displayed on notice boards on each floor, translated into different languages.

The removal process is expected to take six to eight weeks - and 'crash-deck' scaffolding is going up at the building next week. Residents have been kept up to date with letters and special meetings.

You can read the full article on the EADT's website here.

To see Block Management UK Ltd at work watch the recent business case study video that our communications partner Vodafone made about us.