Fire Safety for Students
This article is aimed at Students living in shared accommodation.
For many students, living away at university is their first real taste of independence and it can be a huge responsibility. From learning to cook for themselves to the increased risks of sharing accommodation, we hope this blog will provide students with some more information on how to keep themselves and their flatmates safe whilst away from home.
Cooking
For some students, they may never have prepared or cooked a home cooked meal for themselves before, meaning the chances of causing a kitchen fire are heightened. It goes without saying that cooking is already dangerous and extra care and concentration must be taken when using the kitchen. It is important to ensure that if you are using a gas hob, make sure there are no items such as tea towels or kitchen utensils near the naked flame (you wouldn’t believe how quick a tea towel can go up in flames causing a huge kitchen disaster!). Always make sure any pots and pans are clean and free from any dirt before placing them over the flame. That being said, the flame should not be on full at all times. The higher the gas, the bigger the flame raising the risk of a fire spreading.
Once you have finished cooking, you must make sure all cooking equipment (hobs, ovens, toasters, microwaves etc) are properly turned off to ensure there is no risk of relighting or heating up. A simple two-minute check of your appliance could potentially save your life and those who you live with.
Sockets
In your student bedroom and communal area, you may not have as many plug sockets as you need. Always remember that when using extension leads, never overload them! And always ensure they are turned off when not in use. One of the single biggest causes of residential fires is overused extension leads. If they exceed the stated voltage, they will overheat and could turn into a fire.
Fire Doors
Fire Doors are a vital part of fire safety, especially in multiple occupant buildings. They are there to contain a fire and prevent it from spreading from one room to the next. If there is a fire in your communal kitchen area, a fire door will allow you to call the fire brigade and get help before it destroys the whole building. They buy time for the fire to be contained and put out before they spread. It is important that they are kept shut at all times. A fire door that is wedged open cannot prevent a fire from spreading.
Candles & Cigarettes
It goes without saying that candles left unattended are very likely to cause a residential fire. If using candles, ensure the flame is always away from any other items and cannot catch fire to them. Always remember to blow out candles when leaving the room or going to sleep. Why not try battery powered candles? Not only do they have the same effect, but they are also much safer!
Many rented student accommodations, like all public buildings, smoking is not permitted inside the building. If your building does allow you to smoke inside, always remember to put cigarettes out properly before disposing of them. By filling your ash tray with a small amount of water, you can ensure that your cigarette is completely put out before discarding them.
Know your rights
Your housing provider also has a responsibility to keep you safe whilst you are their tenant. Some of their responsibilities include installing at least one fire alarm on every floor of the building; installing carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with a solid fuel burning appliance; and testing all alarms at the beginning of a new tenancy. It is your landlord’s legal responsibility to ensure you are provided with the correct fire fighting equipment when you are their tenant. I mean, we aren’t talking about providing you with your own fire engine… but items such as stove guards, fire extinguishers and fire blankets should be available to you should you ever need them. If you notice that you are missing any of the above, please get in touch with your landlord to rectify the problem.
So what is your responsibility as a tenant?
It is so important that you check the fire safety equipment in your building regularly to ensure it is fit for purpose and there are not issues that might cause a problem should you ever need them. Never cover smoke alarms, they are there to help you and could potentially save your life. That being said, test your smoke alarms regularly to ensure they would activate in the event of a fire! Finally, make sure you are aware of the escape routes in case on an emergency.
Here at BDL, we can help landlords ensure their property is compliant and safe for their tenants. From ensuring fire doors are up to standard, to compartmentalisation, we are here to help you. Landlords can incur huge fines if the property is found to be unsafe for tenants. Why not get in touch with us today to see how we can help you and your tenants?
