High-Rise Buildings (Dec '24)

WMFS OFFICIAL – NEW – FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST – FOI24155 

Ref: FOI/24155 

RE: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 REQUEST 

I am writing to confirm that the West Midlands Fire Service has now completed its search for the information you requested further to your Freedom of Information request. 

Please find below a summary of our findings. 

Request 

1. How many up-to-date building and wall plans have you received since October 2023, in your jurisdiction? 

Reply 

3260 

Request 

2. It is a legal requirement by the Government that wayfinding signage be installed and updated in high-rise buildings. Whose responsibility is it to ‘safeguard’ this, and what processes (if any) are in place to ensure these requirements are met? 

Reply 

Yes -The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 were introduced under Article 24 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and their purpose is to enact the majority of the changes to fire safety legislation from the recommendations within the Grenfell Tower inquiry Phase 1 report.  

Regulation 8 Wayfinding Signage  

8(1) The responsible person in relation to the high-rise residential building must ensure that the building contains clear markings of floor identification and identification of domestic premises. 

The absence of wayfinding signage will be identified by the West Midlands Fire Service during audits and operational information risk-gathering visits inspections or incidents. WMFS will look to inform the Responsible person of their obligations and a pragmatic approach to enforcement will be adopted subject to the circumstances of the case 

Request 

3. How many high-rise buildings are served by you, in your jurisdiction? 

Reply 

691  

If you have any queries about this Freedom of Information request, please contact us. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.  

For service complaints, issues or comments regarding this request please contact The Public Relations Department, West Midlands Fire Service, 99 Vauxhall Road, Birmingham, B7 4HW 

Further information concerning Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner website at either the following link: https://ico.org.uk/ or at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 5AF.