Student Fire Safety

Essential fire safety tips

While fire safety may seem like an extra responsibility, developing good habits now can save accidents from happening. By following these essential fire safety tips, you can enjoy college or university life while staying safe and protecting yourself and those around you.

Living in halls of residence

Smoke and heat alarms will be placed in key areas, which will sound an alarm when active. If you hear an alarm, go to your designated assembly point.

There’ll be break-glass fire alarms near exit doors. If you discover a fire, or suspect there’s a fire, break the glass to sound the fire alarm. Then go to your designated assembly point.

There’ll be fire resistant doors in key areas. When they’re shut, they protect your escape route from smoke and fire. Never wedge fire doors open.

It’s dangerous to open a door if there’s a fire behind it. Touch the handle with the back of your hand. If it’s hot, don’t open it. If you discover a fire don’t put yourself in danger.

Living in rented accommodation

If you’re sharing rented accommodation, there’s a bigger risk of fire. That’s partly because rented accommodation isn’t always well maintained.

Landlords of private rented housing must provide you with information that provides advice and guidance about your tenancy and safety. In rented accommodation always:

• Check there are working smoke alarms in the flat, on stairs, and landings. Heat alarms should be placed in the kitchen.
• Carbon Monoxide detectors should be fitted in all rooms where there is a carbon-fuelled appliance such as boilers, fires (including open fires), gas or paraffin heaters, stoves or a flue.
• Check there are no bars on the windows and that they can be easily opened from the inside
• Check for fire resisting labels on the furniture. Furniture made before 1988 may not be match/fire-resistant. It can catch fire easily and will give off toxic smoke.

House of Multiple Occupation (HMO)

If 3 or more of you are renting/sharing, the landlord must have a licence from the local council for operating a House of Multiple Occupation. If there’s no licence, don’t rent the property and report the landlord to the council. If it has a licence, it must have:

• Smoke and heat alarms to detect and warn of fire
• An emergency plan showing the nearest exit
• An escape route
• Fire extinguishers

False alarms

We need your help to prevent false alarms, our firefighters can be diverted away from attending real emergencies.

If you have consumed alcohol or drugs, your judgement and decision making will be substantially impaired. You and other residents will be at risk of fire and fire injury.

In particular, cooking or smoking whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol will place you at considerable additional risk of fire and injury.

Smoke and Heat Alarms

To minimize false alarms:

• keep bathroom doors closed as steam from showers could trigger a false alarm
• don’t use Aerosol sprays directly under smoke detectors
• don’t cover a smoke or heat detectors

Escape routes, escape plans, and assembly points

Keep escape routes clear of rubbish, bikes, furniture or any items which could impede your escape.

Make sure you have an escape plan for getting out as quickly and safely as possible.

When exiting the building make sure you close doors behind you. Closed doors will help slow down the spread of smoke and fire.

Make sure you know the assembly point to report to outside.

We also have more detailed advice on making an escape plan as well as escaping a fire.