In the UK, parcel volumes have doubled since 2021, creating multiple problems in buildings without sufficient and compliant solutions. Instead, carriers are leaving parcels unsecured in lobbies and on stairs, entrances and corridors, creating potential bonfires of combustible materials and blocking or obstructing fire exits. This is a very real modern living risk but it can be addressed.
For this reason, we strongly recommend every building now has a ‘Parcel Strategy’. It will ensure parcels can be stored safely and conveniently in a 2 hour fire-rated parcel locker system that will leave fire escape routes clear and contain, hold back and not contribute to the spread of a fire.
Even if your building doesn’t have an issue with parcels now, the seismic predicted growth in parcel numbers could create a fire risk and cause you compliance issues in the years ahead. And with the number of parcel deliveries in the UK expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2026, that could be sooner than you think.
Central to the new regime is the creation of a national Building Safety Regulator (BSR), sitting within the Health and Safety Executive, with responsibilities for monitoring the safety of all buildings in England. The Regulator has wide-ranging powers to regulate standards for buildings and construction work, including powers to investigate and prosecute breaches. Higher Risk Buildings will be subject to safety case processes and regular safety case reports, needing to be reapproved for occupation regularly. The Building Safety Regulator is likely to be interested in your strategy for the storage of parcels due to the risk of volume blocking routes, creating trip hazards and accelerating a fire.
The sign-off and continued approval of your building in the future could be impacted by a problem that’s easily solved by a parcel strategy and one of our 2 hour fire-rated parcel box solutions today.
See our parcel box solutions