Management company pleads guilty to failing fire risk assessment
The building was given a Notification of Deficiencies by Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service in 2019
A management company in Ipswich has pleaded guilty to not complying with a fire safety enforcement notice, issued by Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service.
Ipaxis Management Company Ltd may be issued substantial fines after failing to undertake a suitable fire risk assessment at their premises on Wolsey Street.
The building was given a Notification of Deficiencies by the fire service in 2019, which then escalated to an Enforcement Notice the following year, and finally a summon had to be issued.
A Competent Fire Risk Assessor has since been appointed for the company, whose risk assessment recommendations mirror those of Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service.
Sentencing has been deferred for six months to allow the company to focus their funds on fire safety improvements.
Dave Collins, Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer, said he was pleased with the outcome.
He said: ‘Our primary concern is for the safety of residents in Suffolk. SFRS will always ensure an appropriate level of fire safety in all premises which are covered by fire safety legislation.
‘I welcome the news that the company will now undertake the necessary work to fully protect their residents.
“We will not tolerate companies who ignore our formal notices, which could ultimately put people, property and Suffolk’s firefighters at the risk of fire.’
Councillor Andrew Reid, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Public Protection, & Communities at Suffolk County Council, said Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service had his full support for seeing through the prosecution.
He said: ‘Of course, people will be familiar with our fantastic firefighters who work on the frontline at incidents across the county, but there is a great deal of work that goes on behind the scenes too.
‘Our Prevention and Protection teams work incredibly hard with local authorities, agencies, private companies and local communities to prevent serious incidents happening in the first place.’