Preparing safety case reports: Bin chutes
Help to prepare safety case reports
This information is for Accountable Persons (APs) of high-rise buildings to assist them in preparing safety case reports for Building Assessment Certificates that include bin chutes.
The safety case report must demonstrate that all reasonable steps have been taken to prevent building safety risks happening from bin chutes and reduce the seriousness if they do.
Bin chutes in high-rise buildings
A bin chute is a vertical shaft that passes through the floor/ceiling compartment barriers to allow residents to dispose of rubbish.
A chute will typically run from all residential floors down to a bin room or store on the ground or basement floors.
Bin chutes in some existing buildings might open directly onto corridors rather than being in their own compartments.
If this is the case, and there is a fire in the chute or the bin store below, fire and smoke could spread into the corridor.
It will not usually be practical to relocate bin chutes, and providing compartmentation to current standards may not be reasonable (or even possible depending on the building design).
The downloadable example diagram provides a number of different options that you could consider taking to improve building safety.
The options are not exhaustive – there may be other things you could do – and it may be reasonable to take more than one additional measure.
What is reasonable for your building will depend on the individual circumstances.
Scenario: safety case reports – Bin chutes
Risk of spread of fire/smoke vertically via the bin chute
Possible reason(s)
Bin chutes pass through the compartment barriers between floors.
In some older buildings, the bin chute opens directly onto a corridor on each floor rather than into its own compartment.
Short-term responses
Assess the bin chute(s) and identify what control measures are in place. You should then consider whether any additional measures are reasonable.
You may need help from a fire risk assessor or other competent person.
Additional responses
You may already be doing everything that is reasonable. Make sure you record the reasons for your decision.
There are a number of additional measures you could consider. The ones listed here are only examples. There may be other things you could do and it may be reasonable to take a combination of actions.
Some measures may not be suitable in some buildings – what you do will need to be based on the individual circumstances of your building.
Remember some control measures do not operate instantly. Fusible links or sprinklers need a fire to reach a specific temperature before they operate.
Example measures
- install partitions and self-closing doors to provide compartmentation around the bin chute to prevent the spread of fire and smoke
- this option may not be reasonable (or possible) in some existing buildings but should be considered
- ensure a fire-resisting door or hatch is in place and in good condition on each floor/at each opening to the chute(s)
- fit an automatic fire-resisting shutter at the base of the chute may help to restrict the spread of fire and smoke from a fire in the bin store
- the shutter should, as a minimum, be operated on a fixed temperature fusible link
- install a sprinkler system located over the bins
- sprinklers should be either frangible bulb or fusible link sprinkler heads, or open sprinkler heads with water discharge controlled by smoke detectors
- seal off bin chutes on each floor to maintain compartmentation.
- this option has implications for management of rubbish and increases the risk of fire hazards/blocked escape routes if residents leave bin bags in corridors
- you would therefore need to consider the consequences of this action as well as any benefits
- review what else is stored in the bin store that may increase the risk of fire. You should also review the security of the bin store to minimise the risk of arson
You should prioritise the measures you intend to take and put plans in place to deliver them.
Whatever measures are chosen, you will need to consider whether any additional, temporary measures are needed in the meantime.
Ongoing management
Ensure maintenance and inspection regimes are in place for any measures in place (new or existing).
Other practical examples
- Internal
- Resident engagement
- Structural
Other useful information
- Safety case report – GOV UK guidance
- Preparing a resident engagement strategy – GOV UK guidance
- Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats
- Safety in high-rise residential buildings: accountable persons – GOV UK guidance
- BSR to introduce more proportionate and targeted approach for higher-risk building assessments – GOV.UK
Building safety guidance and resources
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