Top tips for fire safety in halls
Posted 3 months ago
Tue 01 Oct, 2024 12:10 AM
What you need to do to keep your residence safe
- Turn on the extractor fan, close the kitchen door and open a window when you’re cooking. Don’t leave the kitchen when you're using the oven or hob.
- Ensure all appliances you bring to halls have been PAT tested and approved
- Clean heat sources regularly. You should ensure all areas around heat sources such as ovens, hobs and extractor fans are kept clean and free from excess fat to prevent fire risks. Inspect and clean these areas frequently.
- Avoid waste piling up. Do not allow waste or other combustible items to build up in your bedrooms or kitchens. Place any waste far from heat sources. Dispose of waste in the correct bins provided in your residence, and ensure these are emptied regularly. In University owned residences, our team will attempt to empty full kitchen bins from Monday to Friday.
- Keep cooking areas clear. Do not store combustible materials, such as cooking oil, cleaning products and alcohol, around cooking appliances as this is a fire risk and can allow fires to spread quickly. Keep these areas organised, out of the way and free from hazards.
- Do not prop open fire doors. The doors to your room and kitchen are fitted with metal door-closing mechanisms at the top to make sure that they close and prevent the spread of fire and smoke. Propping open a fire door is a disciplinary offence.
- Never block a fire exit route. Fire exit routes should be accessible at all times. Do not block corridors, doorways or other access routes with any potential obstacles, such as drying racks, bikes or full rubbish bags as they can cause an obstruction in the event of an evacuation.
- Do not cover or tamper with the smoke detectors in your residence, as this is a disciplinary offence. This will stop them from working, creating a fire safety risk, and could activate the fire alarm.
- If you use a fire extinguisher, you must tell the office so that the contents can be replaced. If you don't do this, you will be charged for a new one.
