Fire safety in the specialised housing sector, including care homes and sheltered housing is crucial and the National Fire Chief’s Council NFCC Guide ‘Fire Safety in Specialised Housing’ highlights the role of the Premises Information Box™ (PIB)® which is designed to provide Fire and Rescue Services with quick access to vital building plans and information during emergencies.

Serving as a recognised focal point during incidents, it is suitable for all building types, including specialised housing and care homes.  The NFCC Guide for Specialised Housing provides recommendations for various forms of sheltered housing, extra care housing and also supported housing.  The Guide references consideration in the risk assessment for the provision of information to fire-fighters in respect of residents who may have difficulty in evacuation and in specialised housing, where staff may not be on duty on a 24-hour basis, ensuring the risk assessment makes provision for information on those vulnerable residents who are not able to evacuate themselves.  Key to this is the recognised focal point for information for attending firefighters and to have arrangements in place for keeping the information up-to-date.  The Premises Information Box™ (PIB)® importantly may also house information on hazardous materials in a fire, including full and empty cylinders and their locations.  In sheltered and extra care housing schemes, there will be a reliance on the fire and rescue service for those who cannot easily evacuate themselves.  The Guide provides more information on how to go about this and recommends a Premises Information Box™ (PIB)® in which to hold important details.  In larger and more complex housing premises, it is also helpful to have detailed information on the layout of the building and its services for attending fire crews and the PIB® can assist with this. Importantly having the Premises Information Box™ (PIB)® readily available directly to firefighters without the need to persons, power or signal being present, means they can gain an informed overview of the afore-mentioned information to assist in mitigating risk and assisting vulnerable residents.

Why the PIB®?

Gerda Security introduced the Premises Information Box™ (PIB)® through an initiative 15 years ago, to assist in the provision of building plans and information for attending firefighters.  The benefits of this type of system are widespread, including for high rise residential buildings, where there is now a legal requirement to have these on or in the building.  The Gerda Premises Information Box™ (PIB)® enables firefighters within their brigade jurisdiction, to immediately access the secure Premises Information Box™ (PIB)® through their ‘One Key System’ which they carry on their appliance.

How secure is the PIB®?

The PIB® is available in two version – standard (PIB)® which offers a good level of security and high security (HSS PIB)®.  Both enable the specialised housing sector organisations to have their own bespoke lock system with secure registered keys – only available through an authorised signatory process, whilst the fire and rescue service can gain access separately through their own ‘One Key System’

What is the ‘One Key System?’

The ‘One Key System’ refers to the key for the Fire and Rescue Service.  It means that whether there are several PIBs for different specialised housing sector organisations or other types of Gerda products offering fire and rescue service access, the Fire and Rescue Service in their brigade jurisdiction, only needs their ‘One Key’.  This is owing to the key management technology of the patented locking system.  The cylinder and key system is not based on a europrofile lock system – it is a substantial specialised locking system which offers the extensive number of 4 billion key combinations – enabling greater security whilst achieving best grades in all categories for EN1303:2015. The unique Gerda 3D dimensional key® is trademarked and protected against unauthorised copying, forming part of a registered key system.

For Specialised Housing Organisations, do I need the standard PIB® or the high security HSS PIB®?

The standard PIB® has been a proven product in this sector, offering a robust level of security and is more competitively priced than the HSS PIB® and it contains the same lock management technology as the HSS PIB®.

The HSS PIB® has undergone rigorous testing to STS 205, achieving level BR2 and is third party certified (CS5139) and Secured by Design – it is designed to be sited externally to a building as well as internally.  The HSS PIB® is ideal for specialist housing organisation where PEEPs for specific individuals are held and it is vital that the fire and rescue service can gain access for evacuation purposes.

Both versions offer a commitment to safe, yet functional design:  A3 size to hold A3 laminated plans for attending crews; bevelled corners to minimise the risk of accidental injury; the locking system is designed with a spring mechanism assisting with the opening of the door; whilst supplied with a handle – if this were to become detached, the PIB® still operates; an anti-drill cylinder design, utilising a composite metal Hard Soft System. The engineering of the box ensures the cylinder cannot be extracted; and the lock's position on the right side minimises the risk of vandalism. A lock cover protects the keyhole from debris; clearly identifiable signage for the fire and rescue service.

What contents are required in a PIB®?

Every Premises Information Box™ (PIB)® should contain an Emergency Response Pack (ERP), which includes essential building plans and information in A3 format for use by the Fire and Rescue Services

We offer an efficient professional ERP Service - with years of experience in working with emergency response pack guidance for operational firefighters, Gerda Security Products is well-positioned to advise and assist in the preparation of building plans and information. and our plans and information service formed the basis for the FIA / NFCC Code of Practice for the Provision of Premises Information Boxes™(PIB)® in Residential Buildings, our contribution for which is acknowledged in the Code of Practice. 

Gerda Security offers experienced, knowledgeable, and qualified personnel who deliver tailored services that align with existing code of practice recommendations and with the needs of specific sectors including Care Homes and Specialised Housing.

Service Deliverables

• Review of Care Homes and Specialised Housing building stock needs: A thorough assessment of the building stock to identify the specific needs of each property in terms of fire safety and emergency response.
• Comprehensive inspection of properties and surrounding areas: Detailed inspections are conducted to gather information about the building layout, safety features, and any potential hazards that may impact FRS operations.
•  Identification of passive and active safety features: This involves recognising both passive measures, like fire-resistant materials, and active systems, such as sprinkler installations, that are crucial for firefighting efforts.
• Collation and production of laminated A3 plans: Gerda Security produces detailed laminated A3 plans that include essential information such as building orientation, on-arrival instructions, floor plans, vertical sections detailing all floors and room numbers; specific relevant firefighting equipment, significant fire safety issues, and evacuation strategies.
• Plans in a digital format: These plans are also available in digital format for the Specialised Housing provider
• Provision of Logbooks and Off the Run Sheets, which provide structured and accessible information to support FRS operations.
• Regular review and audit: To ensure that the information remains accurate and up-to-date, Gerda Security offer a service for maintenance of the secure Premises Information Box™ (PIB)® and an audit service plans and data

Installation Service

Proper installation of the PIB® is critical for its effectiveness. The PIB® represents the pinnacle of security and accessibility for firefighter operational response, ensuring that critical building information is always available when it is needed most. Gerda Security Products offer a specialist installation service to ensure correct installation.

The secure Premises Information Box™ (PIB)® sets a benchmark for emergency preparedness and building security. Designed in collaboration with firefighters, this robust and reliable solution ensures that vital building information is readily accessible to Fire and Rescue Services during emergencies. With its advanced security features, compliance with industry standards, and safe design, the PIB® is an essential tool for safeguarding lives and property.

Further information can be found on the National Fire Chief’s Council (NFCC) Guide here: https://nfcc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/NFCC_Specialised_Housing_Guidance_-_Copy.pdf

Please contact our Emergency Access Systems team for further information or a tailored quotation to your requirements:  enquiries@gerdasecurity.co.uk  or telephone: 01638 711028 (option 3 then 1)