Flammable cladding sparks St Helier home closure

Thursday 21 September 2017

44 residents of a St Helier residential home are to be moved after a series of fire safety problems have been discovered in their building.

It's been announced this morning that the St Helier House Residential Home is to be closed as a precaution, in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in June, in which more than 80 people died. The home has cladding which is believed to be flammable.

Built in 1963, the Westmount-based home does not contain many standard modern safety features. The home contains no sprinkler system or ‘dry riser’ pipes which help fire-fighters deal with a blaze in a high rise. Many of the home’s residents also have mobility impairments, which presents a difficulty in getting them out quickly should a fire occur. 

A statement from the Parish explained that “major structural works” would be required in order to ensure that the home was compliant with modern safety regulations.

The news comes in the midst of concerns about the home becoming more difficult to run. Residents and care staff had expressed concerns about the lack of ensuite bathrooms and narrow corridors. 

Constable Simon Crowcroft commented: “St Helier House has a great family atmosphere. The care provided by the Parish staff who work there is second to none and residents really enjoy themselves, especially at their shared meal times and social events. Our staff are extremely professional and committed, and I am very sorry that the closure of St Helier House means that discussions will have to be held with our staff on their future careers.” 

In the interim, the following precautions have been put in place: 

• a trained fire warden/marshal will be on duty throughout the night to patrol the building and deal with any emergency;
• vehicle parking and bin storage in the vicinity of the building will be prevented;
• residents with greatest mobility impairment will be asked to move into rooms on lower floors;
• no new residents will be taken into the Home and the Parish will work with residents’ families and the Health & Social Services Department to find appropriate alternative accommodation for existing residents where necessary.

Mark James, Chief Fire Officer, added: “I am sorry both for the disruption to St. Helier House’s residents and families and for the apprehension this will cause to the team who care for them.  Like the Constable and all the staff at St. Helier House however, the safety of the people living there is my priority so we have asked for extra fire safety measures to be implemented.”