Compliance and Building Safety

Our dedicated Compliance and Building Safety team work hard to ensure that your homes meet the highest safety standards. Their responsibilities cover a wide range of compliance areas to keep every building safe.

Electrical Safety
Fire Safety
Gas Safety
Asbestos in the Home
Legionella Compliance

Here’s everything you need to know to maintain your homes safely in between our routine visits.

Electrical Safety

Electrical safety, covers topics such as:

Electrical safety in the home

Overloading sockets

Our team carries out electrical safety inspections of properties at least every five years, depending on the age and condition of the electrics. However, it’s also important for you to know how to conduct simple electrical checks at home in the meantime.

Tips for Electrical Safety in the Home

1

Regularly check your fuse box for any issues:

Ensure the area around the fuse box is clean, tidy, and not cluttered.

2

Make sure the fuse box:

Is dust-free. Displays the last and next inspection date clearly. Is correctly labelled so each section's purpose is understood. Has blanking covers in place.

3

If a Residual Current Device (RCD/RCBO/RCCB) is installed: Look for the Test Label. Operate every six months. If the RCD trips frequently or does not switch off during testing, contact ClwydAlyn maintenance immediately.

4

Operate the main switch to ensure it can isolate the installation in an emergency.

5

For circuit breakers, check each one individually to ensure proper isolation.

6

All electrical points should be secure, free from damage, and tightly screwed. If you notice any damage or signs of burning, call the contact centre immediately.

Avoid Overloading Sockets

Overloading sockets is a common but dangerous practice that can lead to electrical fires. To prevent this: Avoid plugging too many devices into a single socket. Limit the use of multi-plug adapters. Ensure that the total wattage of connected devices does not exceed the socket’s capacity. For a helpful Socket Overload Calculator, visit:

North Wales Fire Service

Fire Safety

Here is essential guidance on fire safety:

What to do in the event of a fire.

How to maintain domestic sprinkler systems.

Arranging appointments for annual fire door inspections.

Being responsible around fire is a key part of maintaining home safety. Watch the video below for more information on testing fire detection systems and planning an escape route.

Maintaining Sprinkler Systems:

Sprinkler systems have been mandatory for new and converted properties built in Wales since 2016. They require annual service checks to function correctly. One common problem we find is painted-over sprinkler heads. Please avoid painting the sprinkler cap, as this can prevent it from working when needed.

Fire Door Safety:

We have been installing new fire-rated doors in all multi-occupancy buildings to comply with the Fire Safety Act 2021. These doors need to be inspected annually to ensure they are not damaged and continue to provide protection in the event of a fire. Our team will contact you to schedule a quick 5-minute inspection. For more information about your fire door, visit:

Fire Door Safety Guide

Gas Safety

It’s crucial for you to understand the importance of our annual gas boiler checks. During this week, we’re focusing on:

Why these annual checks are necessary.

What to expect during these checks.

Raising awareness of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Watch our video for more details on why we carry out these checks and what to expect.

Carbon Monoxide Awareness:

Carbon monoxide is often called the ‘silent killer’ because it is invisible, tasteless, and odourless. Early symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, nausea, and breathlessness. For more information, visit:

Gas Safe Register.

Asbestos in the Home

Asbestos Awareness:

Asbestos is safe when undisturbed but can pose serious health risks if damaged. To help you identify and manage potential asbestos in your home, we’ve created a video that covers:

What asbestos is.

Where it can be found in homes.

What to do if there’s suspected asbestos.

For more information on asbestos in older properties, click here: Asbestos Safety Guide.

Legionella Compliance

Preventing Legionella Legionella bacteria can grow in water systems if the water is stored or used infrequently, leading to Legionnaire’s disease. To stay safe, we recommend following these tips: • Run taps for 5-10 minutes once a month. • Regularly clean and disinfect shower heads. • If you’re a tenant, notify us if your hot water isn’t heating properly. • If you’re a tenant, allow contractors to perform water tests. For more information on legionella, visit:

Legionella Safety Guide

Your safety is our top priority.

We hope these tips are useful and help you stay safe between regular compliance checks.

Compliance & Building Safety