And presumably not just the communal area alarms,  but also the detectors in the hallway of the flats with the additional issue that many residents have wedged the internal fire doors within their flats open or have completely removed them,  increasing the risk of a fire within a flat threatening the communal area escape route. Although the monitored Aico alarms within the flats should provide some reassurance. 


I am thinking out loud now thinking through the risks of the fire alarm system not working. 


There is no one to hear the one in the first photo,  it is outside the flat of a deaf resident, a guest room that is only used occasionally and a plant room. So the risks from fire have increased significantly without the residents being aware of it.


Andy Betteridge

Does the control panel picture imply that the interlinked system is indeed not working at the current time ? It sort of looks like it might

Fault 1  disable 2 is not really the sort of status message I'd want to see.

If so the battery ones may be a temporary measure while it gets fixed, but I'd not be especailly happy with that either except perhaps a very short term indeed.

I interpreted the indicator lights on the left hand side as indicating a deliberate disablement.


Andy B

Hi Andy, are these throughout the entire building, or just in one particular area?



You mentioned that there was a heat detector in the hall way of each flat of the old folks home connected to the communal fire alarm, is there also a sounder/ indicator within each flat that may sound every time the part 1 system is tested?

The problem seems to be in the main access areas and the battery alarms have not been installed throughout the building.


It is an all singing and all dancing alarm system, have had a look at the panel I am now assuming there is a fault that cannot be located and fixed. The sections of the system that can be seen is wired within galvanised steel conduit and I am sure it was installed to a good standard.


I am surprised that if there is a fault it hasn’t been fixed rather than putting up battery alarms. 


Andy Betteridge

http://ericcharlesworth.co.uk/ec/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Gent-Vigilon-User-Manual.pdf


These new fire alarm panels look very complicated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMD7Hn5X_oc


Z.

I have no plans to fiddle with anything, but will be watching with interest.


Two street lights stopped working outside the building at the end of August, I initially reported them at the start of September, it took a full three months to get them fixed as it took until December to get them working again.

First the hedge had to be cut, then the lanterns were replaced and it was discovered there was no longer an electric supply to them, so the DNO had to get involved. It’s surprising how long a thread of emails with photos you can exchange to resolve a seemingly simple issue ?


Andy B.

It's a Gent vigilant panel which means it's a managed protocol, this means only an approved Gent agent will be able to fully support the system and this can be costly, probably the reason why the issue has not yet been resolved. 


Regards Ts

 this can be costly, probably the reason why the issue has not yet been resolved. 

And if these costs are covered by "landlord" or Management Co service fees,

then these would be subject to Sec 20 consultation limits under the Landlord and Tenant Act.

Anything over £250/per "residence" (not person) needs approval from all 

[irrespective of the fact that reserves may have been built up to cover these, such that the increase in annual fees would not change (or be anywhere near £250) or urgency of repair (!) ]


Therefore, it may well have been a pragmatic lower cost interim (if extended) solution ?

... if only it had been covered by a maintenance service fee (AKA insurance) from an approved service Co, then all would be simpler ?


Questions to be asked as to exactly what is being done to solve the fault, and in what timescale... and of a Sec 20 consultation if required, then why hasn't it been issued with speed (given the H&S aspect).