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This News Section is written and maintained by: Jewel Creative Ltd 

Restaurant owner fined for ten breaches of Fire Safety Order

August '10

A restaurant owner has been fined £15,000 for ten breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 following a serious fire.

When crews arrived at the China Wok restaurant in Stokesley, north Yorkshire on 24 January, they found a fire on the ground floor of the premises. Two people who were trapped on the upper floors were rescued by firefighters and taken to hospital.

Following the fire, investigations found that the owner, Mr Shun Lin Lam, had failed to address a number of fire safety deficiencies and allowed people to sleep in the premises, despite not having an adequate means of escape, a fire alarm, a fire detection system, any emergency lighting or fire extinguishers.

Mr Lan pleaded guilty to the breaches at Northallerton Magistrates Court on Monday 2 August.

Ms Karen Galloway, prosecuting, said the decision to prosecute was not taken lightly. “The responsible person is always in a position of authority; their lack of actions should have been foreseeable to prevent, in the event of fire, persons being put at risk of death or injury. The contraventions in this case were serious and would have continued had the fire authority not acted immediately by serving a prohibition notice on the responsible person.”

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said that in imposing the fine, the magistrates stated there was a balance to make. On the one hand, two lives could have been lost inside a property which was a fire hazard and where little money had been spent for a very long time. On the other hand, the defendant had not wilfully refused to do the upgrade works required and had fully co-operated with the courts and fire authority, but had been ignorant of fire safety regulations.

Source: Info4Fire

July '10

New workplace fire safety qualifications unveiled 

Three new fire safety in the workplace qualifications have been introduced by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

The CIEH Level 1 award provides a basic understanding of workplace fire safety and prevention; the Level 2 award in fire safety principles aims to enable candidates to become fire safety wardens in their workplaces; and the Level 3 award is designed for those candidates who may go on to to carry out fire risk assessments.

“Businesses can suffer catastrophic damage as a result of a fire,” said Des Hancox of the CIEH. “Apart from the human risks associated with fires, organisations often experience prolonged disruption to daily activity and incur significant costs – not to mention the potential for reputational damage.”

The qualifications are accredited by OFQUAL and are part of the institute’s 50 qualification training programmes delivered through a network of trainers.

Source: Info4Fire

 

June '10

Enforcement notice details wide-ranging fire safety breaches at CLG headquarters

Info4fire can today reveal that the London headquarters of Communities and Local Government – the government department that steers fire safety policy in England and Wales – has been served with an enforcement notice under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

In a damming critique of the building’s fire safety arrangements, an inspector from the enforcing authority, the Crown Premises Inspection Group, states:

“The concepts of ‘responsible’ and ‘competent’ persons, and the duties placed upon those persons under the Order, appear not to be understood within CLG premises”.

The notice, served on 16 February on the then secretary of state for Communities and Local Government, John Denham, details numerous shortcomings in fire safety measures and management at CLG’s Eland House premises in Victoria. It lists alleged breaches of 13 of the 15 Articles of the Fire Safety Order that impose duties on the CLG, as the responsible person, including:
 

 

  • Introducing a fire load in the atrium which was not considered in the building’s fire engineered design, by installing a cafeteria which, it is said, may lead to “uncontrolled fire spread throughout the building”

  • An unsuitable and insufficient fire risk assessment

  • Failing to nominate competent persons to help the responsible person discharge his duties

  • Failure to adequately maintain the fire alarm system, interconnections between fire safety systems, and smoke vents throughout the building

  • Lack of evidence of adequate training and provision of essential fire safety information to staff
     

 

In an apparent reference to other CLG premises, the inspector goes on to say: “At present there is a lack of national policy, guidance and ownership of fire safety management across the CLG estate.”

Details of the inspection and the enforcement notice have come to light under a Freedom of Information request made to CLG by an individual linked to the fire safety industry.

“Unacceptable” policy
Other deficiencies found include an “unacceptable” policy that no one should use portable fire extinguishers in the building; the inability of the building to support the phased evacuation strategy; no adequate arrangements to ensure visitors and contractors are accounted for in an evacuation; and shortcomings in the means of escape for the number of people likely to occupy the building.

Although Eland House is categorised as Crown premises, it is still subject to safety legislation including the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, and enforcement procedures are similar to those of other premises. However, Crown Immunity means the responsible person cannot actually be prosecuted for offences.

The enforcement notice also reveals that the contracted facilities company, having some control of the premises, was sent a copy of the notice. However, it makes it clear that although the company is considered a ‘nominated competent person’, they had not been provided with sufficient means to undertake this role.

Responding to the revelation of the enforcment notice, a CLG spokesman said:

"Following the remodelling of parts of the interior of Eland House, the Department requested that the Crown Premises Inspection Group (CPIG) audit the facility to review the impact that the changes had on the fire safety of the building. The CPIG made a number of recommendations in the form of a Crown Enforcement Notice which was issued on 16 February 2010. The Department has accepted these recommendations which are now in the process of being fully implemented."

The enforcement notice is dated 16 February 2010 and relates to a fire safety audit which was carried out on 26 November 2009. Ironically, the Crown Premises Inspection Group comes under the remit of the government’s Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser, whose unit is itself based at Eland House.

In January, it was revealed that the Fire Service College – an executive agency of CLG – had not carried out a valid fire risk assessment at the time of the fire which destroyed an appliance bay at its Moreton in Marsh premises.

Source: Info4Fire

April '10

 

Fire rips though south London school

A fire in a south London school that saw around 50 people evacuated from homes around the area is now under investigation.

Crews were called to Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham Temple Grove primary school, formerly Monson primary school, in New Cross around 3pm on Tuesday.

It took 50 firefighters from across the capital to get the blaze under control by around 9pm, a spokesman from London Fire Brigade said.

The three-storey building, empty of pupils due to Easter holidays, is thought to have been under refurbishment. All floors were considerably damaged, and the roof and second floor "badly damaged."

It is not known yet how the blaze started but an investigation is underway. It is thought that a gas propane cylinder was involved in the fire.

March '10

Hotel company convicted of fire safety offences

A company that owned a London hotel has been ordered to pay more than £21,000 in fines and costs after pleading guilty to six offences under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Malfax Investments Limited, which owned the Averard Hotel on Lancaster Gate in Bayswater, was sentenced this week at Westminster Magistrates Court.

The hotel was inspected by fire safety officers in April 2009, when they found a number of failings including inadequate fire detection and alarm system, problems with the external means of escape and inadequate and defective fire doors. As a result of these deficiencies, the officers issued an enforcement notice detailing the issues and when they needed to be resolved.

The company disclosed a fire risk assessment that was prepared in January 2008. Although it detailed a number of failings and advised steps they needed to take to address them, said London Fire Brigade, the company failed to act on the findings and implement any of the actions required.

The hotel closed shortly after the enforcement noticed was issued.

“The general public should feel safe from fire when they are staying at a hotel and the responsible person must make sure their premises comply with the regulations,” said London Fire Brigade’s assistant commissioner for fire safety regulation, Steve Turek.“All premises owners and operators must undertake a fire safety risk assessment. Although this was completed in this case, it is no use if the responsible person does not act on its findings.”

Source: Info4fire

January '10

Tower block fire risk assessment register for England

Plans for a national register of tower blocks in England, to include the date of the last fire risk assessment for each block, have been unveiled today by the Tenant Services Authority (TSA).

The social housing regulator’s national register will hold details on ownership, the number of properties, and the age of each block. It will also list the date of the last fire risk assessment and the date the next one is due.

The register will include all buildings of six storeys or more (excluding basements) that house social tenants. The TSA will begin collecting data from housing associations in February and the register is expected to be available in the summer.

“The health and safety of tenants is obviously of paramount importance to housing associations and their tenants," said Phil Morgan, the TSA's executive director of tenant services. "That is why the TSA is proposing to include health and safety in its new standards for social housing landlords, which come into force from April, and by developing a new national register of tower blocks.

“The register will be a valuable tool, allowing us to build up a comprehensive picture of tower blocks in England. It will allow us to work with landlords to ensure that they are fully complying with their responsibilities to carry out risk assessments and taking appropriate action, so that tenants are properly protected from the risk of fire.”

Following the fire at Lakanal House in Camberwell, the TSA wrote to all housing associations asking them to check the fire safety of their tower blocks. They were asked to inform the authority if they owned any housing with similar 'scissor block' design features which were of concern. The Communities and Local Government department (CLG) wrote to all local authorities asking for similar information.

Five housing associations have reported that they have a total of six blocks with a similar design to Lakanal. The associations are:
• Amicus Horizon
• Gentoo Sunderland
• South Yorkshire Housing Association
• Paragon Community Housing subsidiary - Richmond upon Thames Churches Housing Trust
• Whitefriars Housing Group

All five associations have responded with plans or action taken to address any fire safety issues. According to the TSA, all the associations have up-to-date fire risk assessments, and the tenants who live in the six blocks have been notified and will be kept informed. The TSA is continuing to work with the five landlords on the issues raised.

Source: FSE

December '09

After more than two years’ work, the revision to BS 5306-3 on the commissioning and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers is published. Keith Goodwin highlights some of the main changes.

This brief article is intended to provide a short guide to highlight the principal changes introduced by this 2009 version of BS 5306-3, and the expected impact of these changes on the portable fire extinguishing servicing market.

Throughout the drafting within a task group of the BSI committee, the intention was to try and simplify the existing standard and ensure that the new standard reflected current practices. The work was not without its share of controversy but in the end we have a standard that is current and should help the industry better service the needs of its customers.

So having said that, what are the changes brought in by the 2009 version? Well firstly to give better guidance on what the standard actually covers the title has been changed to:
Code of practice for the commissioning and maintenance of portable fire extinguishers. The old title referred to ‘inspection’ but it was recognised that inspection is part of commissioning and maintenance, so the title now reflects what actually happens.

Also it was recognised that extinguishers now come from a wide range of new sources, in addition to the traditional supply route of the fire extinguisher manufacturers and suppliers. The Internet now plays an increasing role in the sale of portable fire extinguishers. I won’t go into discussions on the rights and wrongs of this and neither does BS 5306. The Fire Safety Order places an onus on the responsible person to ensure that fire protection equipment installed is fit for purpose and maintained (more about this later) – this is from day one. Also, suppression systems and fire alarm systems are commissioned to ensure that what is installed meets the original design and actually works when required. Portable fire extinguishers should not be any different and most fire companies installing portables have been doing this for a number of years now. The standard reflects this and sets out the steps to be taken when installing a new extinguisher. This should give the customer more assurance that what is installed will do what it is supposed to, when it is needed.

What the standard says, in short, is this step should be carried out by a competent person and immediately prior to placing the extinguisher in its designated place. The committee recognised that under the Fire Safety Order the responsible person (previously referred to as the user) has far more wide-ranging responsibilities. The standard provides additional guidance for the responsible person: this now includes a check for missing parts, a requirement that results are recorded, and, if they have any doubts, the responsible person is guided to consult a competent person. Furthermore, again to ensure compliance with the Fire Safety Order, the responsible person is required to advise the competent person of changes likely to affect extinguisher cover.

Having identified some of the most notable changes, we’ll now go through the standard as a reader would, from front to back, highlighting the most significant changes. With the addition of the new commissioning step, there are now five service stages instead of four, starting with ‘commissioning’ moving through ‘basic’ and ‘extended’ to ‘overhaul' and ‘recharge’. Basic service intervals now have a tolerance of 12 months plus or minus a month – this allows for the fact it’s never possible to always attend on the same day every year. It also avoids the embarrassing comment “well you came on the 12th last year so you’re late.”

At the basic service there is now a requirement to carry out a weight check on all extinguishers – there is no longer exclusion for cartridge operated extinguishers.

There has been quite a bit of change to extended services which again, now have a tolerance on the intervals. For water, water based and powder the extended service should be carried out five years from date of commissioning or six years from date of manufacture, whichever is sooner. For primary sealed powder extinguishers it’s ten years from date of commissioning or 11 years from date of manufacture, whichever is sooner.

Plastics headcaps
Those who have been in the business for a while are well aware of concerns about ageing and wear to plastic head caps. The standard has attempted to address these concerns in the following ways. Firstly there is now a new definition of a plastics head cap, which is: “component manufactured from plastics designed to retain working pressure upon actuation of an extinguisher. Note: This includes plastics headcaps retained by a metal collar, but excludes metal headcaps which have a plastics shroud where the plastics component does not retain working pressure.”

At extended service, as a safety precaution, the standard states that you should replace plastics head caps at the end of the service before re-assembly of the extinguisher. As a further safety step, it also states that if you have any concerns about the head, for example it’s been painted or there are obvious signs of UV degradation, then you replace the head cap before you carry out the test discharge.

There is now quite a bit of guidance on labelling and marking and what you should do if you are unsure about labels or markings on the extinguisher. In a competitive market everyone wishes to put their mark in the best view to the customer: BS 5306-3 makes it very clear, however, that distributor and service provider labels should not obscure any marking required by EN 3. Let’s face it, this marking is important – it tells you what you need to know about the extinguisher so why would you cover it up! The standard also requires the maintenance label (this was called the maintenance record in the 2000 version) to have the full postal address of the service provider and a statement that the extinguisher has been serviced to BS 5306-3. This latter bit allows responsible persons to show they are complying with their legal responsibilities.

Report
The maintenance report should include information on providing permanent replacements for extinguishers that have been condemned, not maintained or are missing. In addition, it should give guidance if the coverage in a building needs to be improved; the service technician is seen as the best person to advise the client about these issues.

Information on the certificate of inspection that was previously covered in the BAFE schemes has been added. This includes:
•  Name, postal address and telephone number
•  Date of inspection
•  ID of technician
•  List of all extinguishers serviced and those non-conforming
•  Signature of the responsible person (Note, not technician)
•  Statement that the service is to BS 5306-3

There has nearly always been confusion about CE marking and what you should do if you don’t see the mark. The standard has addressed this and gives clear guidance that if the extinguisher was manufactured post-2002 and it has no CE mark, then you condemn it. If asked, the reason is it does not comply with UK law. It should be noted that this does not apply to refurbished extinguishers.

The new standard acknowledges that extinguishers made to older standards than EN3 are still in service. These are acceptable as long as they remain serviceable and are marked with a fire rating.

Those which do not have a fire rating should not be included when calculating the coverage recommended in BS 5306-8. This also applies to EN3 extinguishers that are not from UK suppliers and may not bear the easily recognisable BSI Kitemark. The FIA (Fire Industry Association) has drafted additional guidance for service technicians to assist them when they come across an extinguisher with marking they may not recognise. This guidance is freely available and can be downloaded from the FIA website (www.fia.uk.com).

Training
What does the revised standard say about training? Again, it has attempted to make clear what the requirements are. Initial training hasn’t changed much. The standard notes that the training providers have changed and that there are certificates from other bodies that no longer provide training and these will still be accepted. All the examinations are now set by BAFE.

With regard to refresher training, the new standard now accepts that continual professional development (CPD) should provide sufficient knowledge and experience, and is accepted as an alternative to a refresher training course.

The new standard provides guidance on halon extinguishers – yes they are still out there for some specific critical uses, although these exemptions are under review by the European Commission and a timetable has been proposed for the withdrawal of the exemptions. The standard informs the reader that in order to handle such extinguishers, the service technician must have the qualification stated in the UK Ozone Depleting Substances (Minimum Qualifications) Regulations.

This has been a brief tour of the new standard. However, there is no substitute to reading the new standard itself, and although it is not law, responsible service companies and their technicians should be fully conversant with it, and should be working to its provisions. The committee which drafted the standard took a long time to get to where we are and as they say, time will tell if we got it right. But it’s certainly a move forward. 

Keith Goodwin is managing director of Anderstore Ltd and is a member the Fire Industry Association’s portable servicing committee, installers and maintainers commercial section, and extinguishing manufacturers technical committee.

 

 

 

 

Landlords imprisoned for fire safety breaches 17/06/2009

Two landlords of bedsit accommodation in north London have been sentenced to six months' imprisonment and ordered to pay £5000 costs each for breaching fire safety legislation. The prosecution followed a fire on 31 March 2007 at a house converted into bedsits on Hampden Road, London N8.

Michael de Havilland and Sally Fox of Muswell Hill were sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday 12 June, after previously pleading guilty to several breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. These included inadequate fire detection systems, a lack of proper fire doors for bedrooms or for the communal kitchen, no emergency lighting in the building’s stairway, a lack of firefighting equipment such as a fire extinguisher or fire blankets, and no fire risk assessment available for inspection.

A further inspection was arranged where an enforcement notice was issued, explaining that the breaches needed to be dealt with. But after further contact with the co-owners and further inspections over a number of months, inspecting officers found that no remedial work had been completed.

“This is our second prosecution resulting in a custodial sentence and again sends out a strong message to landlords and building owners,” said Brian Coleman, chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority. “Our role is to keep Londoners safe, and where we see that you are not taking your legal fire safety responsibilities seriously, we will take action.”

Source: The FSE

 

 

Risk assessments on young arsonists

The UK’s first fire assessments to be used by practitioners working with juvenile firesetters was launched as part of an international conference organised by the London Fire Brigade and the Cognitive Centre Foundation (CCF).

The two-day event entitled Working with Juvenile Firesetters – Risks, Rights and Resources gave delegates the opportunity to discuss how best to work with children and adolescents with identified firesetting behaviour. Dr David Kolko, professor of psychiatry, psychology, and paediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine was the keynote speaker.

“Children start to play with fire for a variety of reasons, ranging from natural curiosity to a cry for help and delinquent behaviour,” said Joanna Foster, manager of London Fire Brigade’s juvenile firesetters intervention scheme (JFIS). “Without help and guidance, firesetting behaviour can increase and lead to serious consequences such as injuries and fatalities and damage to homes, schools and property.

“The conference has been an exciting opportunity for London’s JFIS to build on our working relationship with Professor Kolko and CCF, whilst also furthering our working knowledge of this fascinating field. The varied disciplines and number of UK and overseas brigades attending the conference will lead to more children and families getting the expert help they need.”

JFIS was launched in 2001 and aims to tackle the problem of children setting fires by working with young people and their families. It is recognised as one of the largest and most successful in the UK, and has dealt with over 2300 referrals to date. The scheme is also currently offering support to the intelligence liaison unit of the Victoria Police in Australia, following the bush fires in February 2009 that claimed many lives.

London Fire Brigade assistant commissioner Andy Barrett added: “JFIS is a really important part of our work towards achieving the Brigade’s overall aim to make Londoners safer. To share information and meet fellow experts from other countries can only enhance the excellent work we already do. Sadly, some young people do demonstrate a fascination with fire, including playing with lighters and matches, but by working with young people as soon as this behaviour is identified we can prevent serious consequences.”

Source: FSEOnline

May '09

A new guide to the regulations on the fire safety of furniture and furnishings has been published by the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA). This year is the 21st anniversary of the introduction Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations.

The guide was compiled by FIRA’s flammability specialists with input from British Furniture Confederation (BFC) members and other industry experts. It covers the flammability requirements for all upholstered domestic products including sofas, armchairs, beds, mattresses, mattress toppers and some outdoor furniture. It provides advice on the requirements for manufacturers of fabrics and foams, as well as the manufacturer or retailer of the final product.

Government research has estimated that in the first ten years of their implementation, the furniture regulations have saved between 710 and 1860 lives and avoided thousands of injuries.  

Besides the clarifications and updates on new technology, there is a Frequently Asked Questions segment, together with sections on individual products. Also included are summaries of the regulations, current practices and changes in the industry, reasons for misinterpretation of the regulations, and outlines of the responsibilities of different organisations throughout the supply chain.

The Guide will be freely available either as a limited edition document or as a download from FIRA’s website (www.askfira.co.uk) 

Martin Jourdan, chairman of the BFC, said: “It’s become clear to us that after many years of living with the UK’s complex regulations on flammability, companies still need expert help and advice in understanding and complying with these regulations, and we hope that this updated guide will help clarify the many aspects of this subject.”

 Source: FSE Online

February '09

JEWEL Fire Products (UK) Ltd acquire Saffire Products Ltd

Jewel Fire Products (UK) Ltd has acquired Saffire Products Limited making the combined business the largest independent trade manufacturer in the UK.  The acquisition is good news for the Fire trade as the new company will offer stability, added value and quality products! Find out more www.JewelSaffire.co.uk

January '09

 

 

 

JEWEL Fire Products have completed their own manufacturing facilities in the Far East and have successfully passed BSi at the Factory and on their products in a record time. The new can which is due to hit the UK in February 2009 has seen many changes over the years and is now in complete control of JEWEL, their factory, their staff and their customers feedback. Watch this space! Call: 0845 3305406 to speak to Anne / Mike to receive your sample and pricelists.

 

 

 

 

Fire Sprinklers Save Family

Keith Rhodes of Nationwide Fire Sprinklers reports that one of his installations successfully operated on 27th December. A single sprinkler head in a bathroom operated to extinguish a fire in a towel which was caused by the ignition of paper by a recessed ceiling light.

The owner of the premises believes that the sprinkler system saved both his home and his family. The system was reinstated within one hour of the call and the bathroom was back in use three hours after the fire.

There were at least five deaths in the UK in dwellings over the Christmas/New period. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customers Seek Better Value from Fire Suppliers

 

 

Article submitted by Andy Leather - Independent fire risk assessor & fire safety trainer for  FireRiskPro.co.uk

The fire extinguisher industry is due a re-alignment during the present recession as customers seek better value from suppliers. 

One of the most common issues that is presented when completing fire risk assessments is the overselling of fire extinguishers & associated equipment, all to often clients have far too many extinguishers for the risks within their premises.

 

 

 

A typical example of how  certain elements of the fire industry is given a bad name, this particular brand leading company are famous for basic wages & commission paid for sales to their engineers (they can earn OTE of 3 times their annual basic salary!).

It is understandable to want staff to be motivated but at what cost to their brand  leading name & customers being left bewildered after being over sold equipment, the result is & rightly should be that the client looks to move their business elsewhere.They are also getting fed up with the constant sales pressure during servicing visits, resulting in poor customer relations.

Another example from the same brand leading company is a client who was paying for extinguishers on a tied 5 year rental/contract agreement at a price that was ridiculously expensive (the cost equalled the equivalent of replacing the units each year & if he had done so at least he would have owned the equipment!). 

Business owners & facility Managers are starting to look elsewhere for better value, servicing costs are again abused by the big players who quote a low cost per extinguisher service but then take advantage of extortionate prices for the associated consumables, prices quoted are as low as £1 - £2 per extinguisher per service however anti-tamper tags are then charged (£4.50 each is the highest I have seen!) along with o rings that result in the actual service cost being in the region of £8 - £12 per unit.

 

 

 

Our advice is simple find a good local contractor & you are highly likely to receive good service, best advice & competitive prices, after all you will be important to him unlike the brand leaders...


December '08

Absolute Fire & Security Ltd Win a Business Award!

The Barnsley Business awards were held at the Brooklands Hotel earlier this month. At the award ceremony Absolute Fire & Security Ltd was announced as the overall winner of the Best Business start up award.

The awards ceremony hosted by Claire Frisby of BBC’s Look North gave an insight into the many businesses that were up for the awards. The Best Business Start up Award sponsored by Business Link was the second award of the night and presented by Mark Bamforth to Absolute Fire & Security Ltd

Absolute have said "Most of all we would like to thank you for supporting us in our up and coming business which we hope will continue to grow and develop over the coming years"
 

November '08

Carillion PLC Uses Find Your Engineer for servicing! 

Public Limited Company Carillion has used Find Your Engineer to search for a local company to service one of their sites in London. They are one of many well known companies who have used our website such as American Express, Hard Rock Cafe, Sainsbury's, Ben Sherman, Balfour Beatty and more.

Think local, Think Find Your Engineer!

 

November '08

Plan your 'Great Escape' - student fire safety advice

To mark the start of the new university year, the Fire Kills campaign is working with universities across the country to make fire safety information available to you - especially since this may be the first time you have lived away from home.

Prioritising your fire safety

Since it’s the beginning of the university year, you’re probably preoccupied with new timetables and getting reacquainted with mates and the student union. Things like cleaning rotas, bills or crucially, fire safety, may not be top of your agenda. But as partying, smoking and drinking can be part of student life, you may be at a greater risk from fire.

Smoke alarms

An average of 5 people aged 17-24 are killed or injured by fires each day, and you’re more than twice as likely to die in a fire if you don’t have a working smoke alarm. It’s therefore essential that you make sure you have alarms in your home or accommodation and that you check them regularly.

Here are the Fire Kills campaign’s top tips for ensuring you stay safe from fire in your student accommodation:

Are you interested in more fire safety information?

Student ‘Fire Kills Ambassadors’ will be responsible for leading a fire safety awareness campaign in 24 universities across England. If you want to know more about information and activity on fire safety, keep a look out for posters in your uni with the following logo:

Contacting your local Fire and Rescue Service

If you want a free home fire risk check, then follow the link below to contact your local Fire and Rescue Service. They will carry out a check and give you valuable advice on how to avoid fire risks and what fire safety equipment may be useful in your accommodation

More fire safety information

Follow the links below for further information on how to protect yourself from fire.

If you want more Great Escape campaign material, follow the links below

November '08

Affilliates

Nationwide Fire Extinguishers offers massive savings on fire extinguishers, fire blankets, safety signs and other fire and safety products.