Client: Dacorum Borough Council
Value: £4million
Date: Ongoing
Project overview
WPS has provided fire safety and prevention services to a number of properties for Dacorum Borough Council over many years. These include Betty Paterson House, a 30-flat, four-storey building in Hemel Hempstead; Lagley House in Berkhamsted, comprising 50 flats and bungalows; and Compass Point, which offers 28 flats in a two-storey property in Northchurch. Our work is largely focused on the community spaces in these properties, enhancing both the safety and general aesthetics in these important areas. Dacorum ranks WPS number one on its Fire Framework.
Project details
Individual project requirements vary according to the properties under improvement. However, there are a number of common upgrades we provide in order to elevate fire safety standards and ensure residents have secure and reliable evacuation routes in case of emergencies.
- Entrance doors. Replacement of front entrance doors with FD30 fire-rated primary tested timber doorsets.
- Compartmentation works. Where penetrations through compartment walls exist, we restore compartmentation by sealing openings and joints in fire resistance rated walls, floors and ceilings to prevent the spread of fire, smoke, and heat. These openings often occur due to pipes and cables passing through walls or floors.
- Engagement. Communication and engagement play a vital role in every project, particularly when works are carried out in occupied homes. Surveys and wider feedback repeatedly reinforce how crucial this is to residents’ overall experience. To support this, we used a dedicated Senior Administrator who issued comprehensive introduction letters at the outset of each project. These clearly set out the planned works, including the scope, anticipated start dates, and full contact details, ensuring residents know exactly what to expect. Throughout the programme, we ensured a consistent on-site presence so that residents always had staff available to talk to. This allowed us to understand individual needs and concerns, provide transparency at every stage, and ensure residents feel valued, informed, and heard. We also planned the sequencing and scheduling of works carefully to minimise disruption and maintain safe, convenient access to homes at all times.
- Redecoration. We redecorate living spaces with a Class 0 paint to help reduce the spread of flame across walls and ceilings, as set out in Approved Document B, building regulations for fire safety in residential homes.
- Floor linings. The replacement of floor linings with non-combustible materials, alongside redecoration supports our wider fire safety objectives, but also have a significant impact on the aesthetic appeal of the residents’ living spaces.
“Ensuring tenants feel safe in their homes is our top priority, and we’re proud to support Dacorum Borough Council in delivering these vital fire safety upgrades. Through our long-standing partnership, we’ve not only improved the physical infrastructure of sheltered housing schemes but also prioritised resident engagement every step of the way – these improvements make a real difference to both safety and quality of life.”
Richard Ward
Contract Manager, WPS
