Swansea tower blocks

Our properties

• There are 11 residential tower blocks owned by us, with a total of 671 flats.
• The locations are: Croft Street, Dyfatty (two blocks); Jeffreys Court, Penlan (one block); Matthew Street, Dyfatty (two blocks); Griffith John Street, Dyfatty (two blocks); Clyne Court, Sketty (three blocks); Rheidol Court, Clase (one block).
• They were all built in 1963-64.
• Two blocks have more than 11 storeys; neither has cladding. Nine blocks are below 11 storeys; two do not have cladding.
• We have not used any ACM products with the more flammable Polyethylene core and all our cladding systems are recognised by fire safety experts as being safer.
• Completed and on-going refurbishment projects at our blocks have only used non-combustible cladding and fixing frames. These are subject to detailed inspection and approval.
• High rise flats owned by Swansea Council

Fire safety features

• Each flat has hard-wired smoke detectors which are tested annually as part of our gas service inspection.
• Each flat and communal area has a one-hour FD60-rated resistant fire door. 
• Dry-risers - integrated pipes which can feed large quantities of water to all floors in the event of a fire - are fitted in all towers. This means that fire fighters have access to the water they need to reach all properties should there be an incident.
• Fire breaks are fitted; these further reduce the risk of a blaze spreading.

Fire safety advice issued to our tenants

• If there is a fire in your flat:
  • alert everyone in your flat to get out
  • close the door behind you
  • make your way down the stairs - never use the lifts
  • once outside call 999 and ask for the fire service
• If the fire is elsewhere in your block:
  • you are safe to stay in your flat and take advice and guidance from the fire service
  • however, if you feel threatened - or if your smoke alarm goes off - leave the block
  • all our high-rise blocks use this "stay put" policy. We have confirmed with the fire service that this is appropriate due to the high fire safety standards in our blocks
• Fire safety advice for council tenants

Fire safety processes

• All the blocks comply with the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (opens new window). We carry out a fire risk assessment on all blocks as required under this order and with reference to guidance documents such as the UK Government's fire safety risk assessment: sleeping accommodation (opens new window) and the Local Government Association's Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats (opens new window).
• All communal areas have a full annual risk assessment carried out by us and the fire service to ensure all blocks are to the highest standard. Any issues identified are addressed immediately.
• Neighbourhood officers regularly inspect blocks to ensure any combustible materials and hazards are removed from communal areas.
• Fire service experts visit every block as part of their annual safety audit. They offer all residents free fire safety checks for their flats at any time.
• Stairways of high rise blocks are checked weekly for any obstructions and these are removed accordingly.
• The presence of fire doors in high rise blocks are checked weekly.

Our ongoing work

• We will continue to work closely with the fire service to review safety and will consider lessons from the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
• We will do our utmost to keep tenants safe and properly informed - a commitment to installing sprinkler systems in all blocks is confirmation of that.
• We are proactively seeking to make public as much information as possible to enable the public to understand the situation regarding cladding systems and safety in Swansea.
• Jeffreys Court, 2 blocks at Matthew Street, 3 blocks at Clyne Court and Rheidol Court have all been fitted with a sprinkler system that covers the flats and the communal areas. The remaining 4 blocks are due to have the sprinkler installation carried out soon.

Schools

• Fire safety checks in schools are carried out by the individual school and records of these checks will be held by the individual schools. As schools are data controllers in their own right, any request for information must be sent to the school.
• School contact details