Pearkes House

It’s important to us that you know about the steps we take to keep you safe in the unlikely event of a fire at Pearkes House. 

It’s also essential that you know exactly what to do if a fire breaks out in your home or the wider building.

You’ll find all that information here, so please take a good look and share it with anyone who lives or stays with you, including children and elderly people.

Pearkes House is a seven storey residential block with commercial units at ground. The building is of a concrete frame with masonry walls and a flat style roof. Internal floors and stair are of concrete construction. Internal walls are of brickwork/plasterboard partition construction with a plastered finish. Balconies are of metal construction. 

Pearkes House has been designed and built to offer you a safe and secure home. The building has many fire safety features that are checked regularly.

• We carry out a Fire Risk Assessment (a review of the building to assess its level of fire risk and offer recommendations to make it safer, if necessary), once a year
• Specialist lift engineers inspect and test the lifts every month
• We inspect fire doors every year
• We test the riser systems, which are used by the fire service to provide water to all floors in case of a fire, every six months
• All internal and communal electrical installations, such as wiring, sockets, and lights are tested every five years
• A sprinkler system is installed throughout the building

If there is a fire that is not in your own home, you should stay put. Pearkes House has been designed so the fire would be contained and not spread to other flats.

However, if a fire breaks out in your own home, or if you hear an alarm, you should:

• Make sure everyone inside your home is aware and immediately leaves the flat
• If there’s smoke, keep low to the floor where the air is clearer
• Close all doors inside your flat if it’s safe to do so
• When everybody has evacuated your flat, make sure the front door is closed behind you
• Use the escape plan you’ve practiced that leads you to the ground floor and out of the building. If you can get to the stairwell, this should be a safe route to get out
• When you get outside the building, call 999, ask for the fire brigade and give the building address, which is:

Fairfield Avenue, South Oxhey, Watford, WD19 7EW

• Don’t go back inside the building until the fire brigade has put the fire out and they tell you it’s safe to return home. If the fire brigade doesn’t allow you back in, we or your local council will arrange temporary accommodation, if you don’t have friends or family you can stay with
• Don’t use the lift, unless it has been agreed with us, or your care and support provider, as part of your evacuation plan
• If your escape route is blocked by fire or smoke, stay inside the safest room with a window that opens and call the fire and rescue service on 999, letting them know you’re unable to get out. Keep the door closed and use towels or bedding at the bottom of the door to block the smoke, then open the window and call for help

It’s important to read through these instructions every now and again and keep them in a handy place. It’s also good to get into the habit of:

• Keeping exits clear from clutter and obstructions
• Choosing a safe and accessible place to keep your door and window keys
• Thinking about a second escape route in case the first one is blocked
• If you have an emergency pendant, making sure you wear it and have it close by when you go to bed each night

The main door to your home is also a fire door designed to keep you safe. Follow the five-step check for peace of mind that your door is as safe as can be:

1. Verify certification labels and compatibility. All locks, latches, closers, and hinges must be CE marked and compatible with the door’s certification
2. Ensure the sealing on glazing is not broken or loose in any way
3. Check gaps and seals are consistent and around 3 to 4mm (a £1 coin is a rough guide)
4. Check the closer shuts the door onto the latch from any position. Make sure hinges are fitted correctly with no broken or missing screws
5. Confirm the door closes securely. Any faults or damage to doors should be reported immediately

You should also allow us access to check flat entrance doors. If you see anything concerning, please report it. You could potentially save lives.

The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced new roles and legal duties for people and organisations who are responsible for managing building safety risks in high-rise residential buildings (HRBs) in England. Each HRB in England must have one clearly identifiable accountable person, known as the principal accountable person (PAP). The role of the PAP is significant and necessary to ensure the safety of people living in HRBs.

An accountable person (AP) - is either a person or organisation that owns or is responsible for repairing any of the common parts of the building, or a person or organisation required under the terms of a lease, or by an enactment, to repair or maintain any part of the common parts. Common parts include the exterior and structure, corridors, or lobbies.

At Pearkes House, Home Group is the accountable person and principal accountable person. We can be contacted for repairs and any fire safety concerns on 0345 141 4663.