Fire safety in social housing isn’t just about meeting regulations—it’s about fostering a culture where safety becomes second nature for everyone involved. In the aftermath of Grenfell, the social housing sector has recognised that compliance alone isn’t enough. We need to build a culture where fire safety is everyone’s responsibility.
Understanding Resident Perspectives
For many residents, fire doors are seen as inconvenient barriers rather than life-saving devices. This perception often leads to dangerous behaviours like propping doors open or ignoring minor damage. Creating a safety culture starts with helping residents understand why fire doors matter.
Education Over Enforcement
Rather than simply enforcing rules, successful social landlords are taking an educational approach:
- Explaining how fire doors work in everyday language
- Demonstrating the crucial role of fire doors in containment
- Sharing real-life examples of when fire doors have saved lives
- Making fire safety information accessible and engaging
Empowering Residents
The most effective fire safety cultures develop when residents feel empowered to take an active role:
- Encouraging reporting of fire door issues
- Creating clear communication channels for safety concerns
- Involving residents in safety walkabouts
- Providing regular updates on maintenance and improvements
Staff Development
Building a safety culture requires investment in staff at all levels:
- Regular training on fire safety principles
- Clear understanding of roles and responsibilities
- Confidence in addressing resident concerns
- Knowledge of when to escalate issues
The Role of Communication
Effective communication is vital for maintaining a strong safety culture:
- Regular safety updates through multiple channels
- Clear, jargon-free explanations of safety measures
- Prompt responses to concerns
- Transparent sharing of inspection results and planned works
Measuring Success
A strong fire safety culture shows measurable improvements:
- Increased reporting of maintenance issues
- Reduced instances of fire door misuse
- Higher resident satisfaction scores
- Better compliance rates
- Fewer emergency repairs
At Neo we understand creating a culture of fire safety requires more than technical expertise. Our approach combines professional fire door maintenance with resident engagement strategies. By using the Bolster software system, we’re able to provide transparent tracking of all fire safety measures, helping build trust between landlords and residents.
Ready to transform your fire safety culture? Download our guide Maintaining Compliant Fire Doors Across Multiple Sites: The Power of a Repairs-First Approach or contact us for a free consultation.
