Something has to be done to make the colony houses a lot more fire-safe. That is why the owner, the Society of Benevolence, is focusing on, among other things, new detectors and the replacement of the cabling.
The reason for the refurbishment is the new legislation and regulations regarding fire detectors and a major fire in November that reduced a colony home in Wilhelminaoord to ashes.
“A ship on the beach is a beacon at sea”, explains director of the Society of Benevolence Minne Wiersma. He also emphasizes that the houses are not immediately a fire hazard. “We checked that immediately, of course. We then looked at: how could it be better? We concluded that, for example, the cabling in some homes is really dated. That has to change.”
In total, about fifty homes are being examined and equipped with good fire detectors. “It’s not just about the monumental buildings, but also about other homes that the Company rents out, such as a two-family house at the forestry school in Frederiksoord,” says Wiersma. “We also provide good batteries for the detectors that can last for ten years so that it is properly arranged for the time being.”
Insurance company Univé also pays for the installation of the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and burglar alarms. The other costs will be borne by the Company itself. Wiersma fears that these amounts will result in quite unexpected costs.
“If a lot of cabling has to be tackled or a chimney replaced, it quickly goes towards a ton, but that is a rough estimate. It does not fit, but it has to be done.”
Wiersma expects that residents of the colony homes will experience minimal nuisance. By the way, the rebuilding of the burned down house will start in two weeks.