Fire Safety
Your safety is important to us. That’s why we have created important fire safety guidance and procedures for apartments and general advice on keeping your home safe and protected from the threat of a fire.
Understanding Fire Safety
Ever wondered what to do if a fire beaks out? We detail how you can stay safe at home in the even one occurs. If you are worried about fire safety in your home or building then we will advise you on the steps you can take to feel safe.
What To Do If There Is A Fire
In the event a fire does break out, what you should do next will depend on your home and building. The fire evacuation plans for a single house might be different from the plan for an entire apartment building. Make sure you know this plan well.
However there are three things you should always remember in the event of any fire.
01
Don't Panic
Remain calm if you notice a fire has broken out, no matter how out of control it quickly gets, keep a safe distance, note your emergency exits and remain alert and aware.
02
Raise Alarm
If you are present around other individuals, ensure their safety and are also aware of the fire. Sound the alarm. Leave the emergency exit and ensure everyone is accounted for.
03
Call 999
Call the emergency services and fire brigade. Ensure everyone is kept well away from the room or building where the fire is occurring.
What Do I Need To Know?
If You Need To Leave Your Home
If your fire safety plan tells you to leave:
- Follow the escape route for your building.
- Leave your home if it is safe to do so.
- Follow any emergency instructions.
- Go to your building’s assembly point, if it has one.
- Never put yourself at risk.
Do not use a lift unless you have been told it can be used during a fire.
Doors
Before opening a door during a fire, check it with the back of your hand. If it feels warm, there may be a fire on the other side.
Smoke
Smoke can be very dangerous. If you need to move through smoke, stay as low to the ground as you can, where the air may be clearer.
Fire Safety In Apartment Buildings
Apoartment buildings may have different fire safety plans. This is because each building is designed differently.
Your building may have:
- Fire doors.
- Fire alarms and other fire safety systems.
- A fire evacuation plan.
- A “Stay Put” plan.
- An assembly point.
Make sure you know the fire safety plan for your building.
What Is A Stay Put Plan?
Some apartment buildings have a Stay Put plan.
This may mean staying in your home if there is a fire elsewhere in the building, unless you are told to leave by the fire and rescue service.
The advice for your building will depend on how it has been designed and how its fire safety measures work.
If a Stay Put plan applies to your building, we will tell you what it means and where you can find more information.
if there is a fire in your home, or you are in immediate danger, call 999.
Fire Safety At Home
There are simple things you can do to help prevent a fire:
- Test your smoke alarms regularly.
- Keep hallways and escape routes clear.
- Never leave cooking unattended.
- Dispose of cigarettes safely.
- Do not overload electrical sockets.
- Switch off appliances when they are not being used.
If you have a fire safety concern in your home, please tell us.
Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms warn you if there is a fire. To help keep you safe:
- Test your smoke alarms regularly.
- Never remove the batteries.
- Report an alarm that is damaged or not working.
If you cannot test your smoke alarms yourself, ask someone you trust for help or speak to your Property Manager.
If a smoke alarm is not working, please call us on 0344 736 0063.
Fire Doors
Fire doors help slow the spread of fire and smoke. They also help protect escape routes.
If you have a fire door:
- Do not damage or change it.
- Do not wedge it open.
- Do not tamper with the self-closing device.
- Report damage or problems as soon as possible.
Fire doors are designed to work as installed and should never be modified in any way.
Fire Door Checks
Where required, we arrange checks of fire doors to residents’ homes. These are carried out by qualified contractors. We will let you know when a check of your door is due.
Check Your Fire Door
There are also some simple things you can look for.
- Does the door close properly? – Open the door and let it close by itself. it should close fully without sticking on the floor or frame.
- Are the seats in good condition? – Look around the top and sides of the door or frame. You may see thin plastic strips or brushes. Check that these are in place and are not damaged.
- Is the door or frame damaged? – Look for hole, cracks or other damage. If you spot a problem with your fire door, please report it straight away on 0344 736 0063.
False fire doors will often miss out crucial components such as the intumescent strips aroud the door sides.
Keep Communal Areas Clear
Hallways, satirs and other shared areas can be escape routes during a fire. They need to stay clear.
Please:
- Door not leave belongings in corridors, stairs or shared areas.
- Keep stairs and escape routes clear.
- Do not wedge communal fire doors open.
We carry out regular fire checks of communal areas to help keep them safe.
Cooking Safely
Cooking is a common cause of fires in the home.
To help stay safe:
- Never leave cooking unattended.
- Keep anything that could catch fire away from the cooker.
- Keep your oven and grill clean.
- Keep children and pets away from hot cooking areas.
If a pan catches fire, do not use water to put it out. Get out, stay out and call 999.
Smoking
If you smoke:
- Use a proper ashtray.
- Make sure cigarettes are fully out before throwing them away.
- Never leave a lit cigarette unattended.
- Do not smoke in bed.
- Keep matches and lighters away from children.
E-cigarettes And Vapes
Takle care when charging e-cigarettes and vapes.
- Do not leave them charging overnight or when you are not there.
- Use the correct charger for your device.
- Do not mix chargers or parts from different devices.
- Buy devices and chargers from a trusted retailer.
Electrical Safety
To reduce the risk of an electrical fire:
- Do not overload sockets.
- Switch off electrical items when they are not being used.
- Keep heaters away from curtains, furniture and other items that could catch fire.
- Never use a heater to dry clothes.
- Switch heaters off before going to bed.
Candles
Keep candles and tealights away from anything that could catch fire.
Never leave a lit candle unattended. Put candles out before you leave the room or go to bed.
How We Manage Fire Safety In Our Buildings
Our building safety team helps us manage fire safety in our high-rise buildings. This includes:
- Working with local fire and rescue services.
- Using qualified fire safety contractors.
- Arranging fire risk assessments.
- Making sure any work identified through a fire risk assessment is followed up.
What Are Fire Risk Assessments?
A Fire Risk Assessment, sometimes called an FRA, looks at fire risks in the shared areas of the building. Examples being communal halls and kitchens.
It also looks at the measures in place to help keep people safe.
Fire Safety Information
More fire safety information can be found for:
Frequently Asked Questions
Our frequently asked questions provide you with answers to some of the most common questions around residential tenancy.
What should I do if my smoke alarm is not working?
Please report it to us. Do not remove or disable your smoke alarm.
Can I store things in a communcal hallway?
No. Hallways, stairs and other escape routes must be kept clear.
What is a stay put plan?
Some apartment buildings have a “Stay Put” plan. This may mean staying safely in your home if there is a fire elsewhere in the building, unless the fire and rescue service tells you to leave. Make sure you know the plan for your building.
What should I do if I have a fire safety concern?
Please report it to us as soon as possible so we can look into it.
If you are worried about fire safety in your home or building, please contact us either by phone on 0344 736 0063 or email us at info@redwing.co.uk.
Remember, if there is immediate danger, always call 999!
Contact Us About Fire Safety
If you are worried about fire safety in your home or building, please speak with our team who will be happy to address any concerns or questions you might have.