Fire Safety

All tenants should take the time to read the fire notice provided in the house and/or bedroom in a large development.

It is important to familiarise yourself with the fire safety measures in your property as you move in to your accommodation as these systems help keep you safe every day, however there’s a part for you to play to.

Here’s the best ways to keep fire safe in your house or flat:

• Keep doorways and hallways free from obstructions
• Keep fire doors closed and never wedge them open
• Switch on your cooker extractor fan when you cook
• Never leave your cooking unattended
• Don’t start cooking if you’re tired or under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Never cover a heater or dry your clothes on them
• Never cover a smoke detector
• Use the bathroom fan when showering - steam, and even deodorant spray, can set off the smoke alarm
• Never use faulty electrical equipment
• Be careful to not overload plug sockets or extension leads when in use (appliances which give off heat should only ever be plugged in alone e.g. hairdryers etc)

And around the communal areas:

• Keep all exits and hallways clear of any obstructions
• Never wedge communal fire doors open
• Report any faults with fire doors or equipment to us as soon as you spot them
• Never block emergency access to your building
• Familiarise yourself with fire escapes and your fire assembly point
• Only use the dedicated smoking areas and never smoke or vape inside

Tampering with any fire safety equipment is against the law. Don’t tamper with your fire extinguishers, fire alarm system, smoke detectors (including covering them), break-glass and fire exit signs.

What are we doing to keep you safe in your property?

• all kitchens are provided with a fire blanket.
• all dwellings have an automatic smoke detection system which is hard-wired and interlinked.
• Larger properties have a full zoned heat and smoke detection system which includes manual break-glass call points.
• all larger properties have half-hour fire doors throughout.
• All shared properties have a fire door on the kitchen with self-closers, to ensure that fires are contained within the room in which they started.
• All shared properties and complexes have fire-protected exit routes
• all soft furnishings (sofas and mattresses) meet with the soft furnishing regulations which aim to reduce the spread of fire
• all properties have a Fire Risk Assessment reviewed annually.

Fire Alarm system

Your property is fitted with a mains operated fire alarm system, and it is your responsibility to inform us of any problems or faults.

Please do not remove batteries or disable smoke detection in any way - fire systems are installed to protect you if there is a fire.

If you would like further information about how the fire safety precautions in the property operate, please contact your Housing Management Officer.

Fire doors

Fire doors are installed to protect your route of escape or prevent a fire from entering a room for a certain period of time. 

Fire Doors should be kept shut at all times as they form an important part of the system. Propping these doors open may endanger yourself and other tenants.

The doors have self-closers and fit the door frame flush so that the smoke seals around the door work in the event of a fire.

Do not leave fire doors propped open, as this is the means of protection in the event of a fire. 

Residents, or their guests, must not tamper with the self-closing devices on fire doors. If residents are aware of any faults with, or damage to any fire doors, please report this immediately to Unipol on housing@unipol.org.uk or the Housing Management Officer