Introduction

Cortland is one of largest property management providers in the UK, leading in real estate investment, development and management.

From delivering apartment communities, to property management solutions, they have an extensive portfolio of luxurious and high-end apartment blocks, located across the country. Committed to delivering exceptional service through sustainable and stylish properties, Cortland aims to redefine the rental experience by offering residents a seamless blend of comfort, convenience, and community.

Cortland manages over 2,000 properties nationwide, a wide range of those being high-rise residential buildings. Prioritising resident safety, Cortland recognised the need for top-quality fire safety solutions that comply with recent building regulations. Partnering with fire safety and security specialist Gerda Security Products, Cortland requested bespoke Emergency Response Plans (ERPs), Premises Information Box Systems (PIBs)logbooks & off-the-run sheet packages.

Project Details

The Cortland project comprised of 29 Emergency Response Plans, 17 Logbook packages and 10 secure PIB®s for 13 sites across the UK, located in London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leicester, Leeds, Reading, Guildford, Stevenage and Watford. These residential developments required comprehensive building and floor plans and PIBs for essential fire safety due to the blocks exceeding legislative height limits. According to recent building regulations, new structures over 11 meters and existing structures over 18 meters must have a secure information box (SIB) alongside compliant building plans to aid the Fire and Rescue Service in operational use.

The Emergency Response Pack (ERP) Service provides vital building information to the Fire and Rescue Service during operational response.The plans are bespoke to each block and the residents occupying the premises. Gerda Security Products worked closely with Cortland to ensure compliance and best practices were established throughout each step of the project. From the initial ERP Service inquiry to surveying each individual block, GSP upheld exceptional attention to detail in every phase of the program. The Gerda Emergency Plans Service was chosen for these high-rise residential buildings due to its full compliance with and recommendation by the FIA (Fire Industry Association) and NFCC (National Fire Chiefs Council) Code of Practice. It is referenced in the June 2022 amendments to Approved Document B and Fire Safety (England) 2022 Regulation 4, following the recommendations of the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 1 Report. The ERP Service was developed with the FIA / NFCC to an exacting specification and is a recognised point of information in the event of an incident.

The plans are provided to the end client and Fire & Rescue Service in two formats: physical A3 laminated sheets and digital screen copies. During an incident, firefighters require complete access to building plans to perform the most effective evacuations. The A3 laminated sheets are particularly practical for Fire & Rescue Service use, as they do not depend on electricity, signal or weather conditions.

In addition to the Emergency Response Pack, Cortland requested Gerda Security Products to supply a Logbook and Off-the-Run Sheet package to accompany the plans, in line with the recommendations in the FIA and NFCC Code of Practice.

As stated in the new Fire Safety (England) 2022 Regulations Regulation 4, these building and floor plans must be enclosed in a secure information box. Cortland enquired for the Premises Information Box (PIB), due to it being successfully tested to STS205 BR2 (level II), Secured by Design approved and is compliant to the FIA & NFCC (The National Fire Chief’s Council) Code of Practice as referenced in Approved Document B June 2022 amendments and Fire Safety (England) 2022, following the recommendations of the Grenfell Inquiry.

The PIB® with it’s smart ergonomic design, provides the Fire and Rescue Service with rapid access to building plans with their GSP One Key® System. With responsible key holders appointed by Cortland, having access through their own bespoke keys. As the creators of the original secure information box over 15 years ago, Cortland chose Gerda Security as their trusted partner for this project.

With the extensive project of surveying, designing, and supplying of Emergency Response Packs, along with Logbook packages and PIBs, GSP’s Emergency Access Systems teams ensured clear and consistent communication with Cortland, particularly regarding what is important for each premises when considering the contents of the plans, timing of the surveying team visits, the completion schedule for the plans and estimated delivery of the Logbook packages and PIBs.

Feedback

Gerda Security Products highly regards all client feedback, and we are delighted to receive such positive comments from Cortland about our services and products.

Block Manager Sheila Clarke highlighted, “By tailoring my approach to their specific needs, I was able to effectively compile the necessary information for the ERP plans.”

Sheila also praised our team for being approachable, readily available for inquiries, and consistently providing professional and friendly assistance.
“Our expectations were not only met but exceeded, with the team providing regular updates, estimated times of arrival, and detailed explanations of the deliverables and processes involved.”

Additionally, she mentioned that “the ordering process was seamless, and their extensive knowledge was invaluable in assisting with the selection of appropriate equipment for each site.”

We are committed to maintaining this level of service excellence and look forward to continuing to exceed expectations in our future collaborations with Cortland.