Council issues update on when residents can start moving back into Barton House tower block

Residents of Barton House in Barton Hill have met with Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees to discuss the range of works now well under way at the tower block to make the building safe for people to return home. 

Those residents in attendance were joined by structural engineers, Avon Fire and Rescue Service representatives, and community leaders. They heard that three areas of works are underway to secure the safety of the building and ensure a safe environment for residents to return. 

Residents were also reminded that they should continue to take up alternative accommodation and not return to the block whilst essential works are carried out. 

Further details were shared in relation to two main areas of work at the block: the installation of a central fire alarm system and the addition of extra fireproofing in parts of the building. Residents were also reminded that water testing needs to be carried out in unoccupied flats to check for legionnaire bacteria. 

A central fire alarm system would detect a fire in any part of the block and then able an alarm to be sounded in flats and communal areas. The alarm would immediately alert all residents to any fire and allow the building occupants to undertake an orderly evacuation in the shortest possible time frame. 

Marvin Rees, the Mayor of Bristol, said: “Since our meeting with residents in December, we have been busy working with engineers to establish the extent of the works needed at Barton House to make it safe for residents to return. Those actions are now agreed. We shared the planned approach with Avon Fire and Rescue Service who confirmed that this work is needed before residents can return safely. 

“There are contractors in place, either carrying out these works already or prepared to begin immediately, as we continue to move at pace to make the block safe. 

“The residents of individual flats are being approached to gain permission to carry out works in their properties. This is a vital part of how quickly we can move to complete these works and any delay in gaining access will impact on our plans to support residents to move back into Barton House by 23 February. 

“We are now in a place where we can have a high level of confidence that the structure of Barton House is safer than we thought back in November, but not yet safe for residents to return. This confidence comes from the detailed further work carried out by engineers to survey the block across a number of key locations and the findings of those investigations. 

“These results will be published once we have the final report and can be assured that we have taken all reasonable steps to make the block safe. We remain grateful to all Barton House residents for continuing to support our efforts and allowing us the opportunity to carry out these essential works, and to everyone who is continuing to support affected tenants.” 

During the meeting, residents were also given more information relating to the safety concerns that led to temporary decant of the block in November 2023 and the latest findings from investigations carried out at Barton House. 

Two main safety concerns were identified during initial surveys reported on in November 2023. The first was that some structural ties connecting the floors and the walls were potentially missing.

The second concern was that concrete cover that protects the building’s metal reinforcement may have been too thin.

Officers explained during the meeting that the structural ties, metal bars that run through the concrete floors and walls of Barton House, had now been identified as being in place and in good order. 

Likewise, further investigation of the concrete cover that provides vital protection for the building’s metal structure found the thickness to be generally good throughout the building. Where the cover is at its thinnest, engineers found a layer of blockwork or cement in place, adding additional protection. 

Engineers also identified a third safety measure, steel sections in key locations, that provide vital support for the structure in the event of a fire or explosion. These structures, referred to as “goal posts”, were found to have their own protective cover in good order however officers have opted to install new, additional fire proofing onto these steel beams to boost the protection for the metalwork. This work has already begun in flats where access has been granted by residents and will need to be completed in 42 flats in total. 

Residents were also advised that the council is still awaiting final survey reports from engineers, which will be published along with the other survey material once received.