Angus has been involved in developing and writing British and International Fire & Safety standards since the mid-1980s. The list of standards that he has participated in is impressive and includes BS5839-1, BS8629, EN54-18 and ISO7240-2. Angus utilises his extensive experience to provide an authoritative perspective on the key issues that affect the Fire & Security Industry today.
Student accommodation providers are responsible for complying with fire safety legislation and giving advice to their tenants on the fire safety arrangements and procedures. In residential sleeping accommodation premises covered by the Fire Safety Order, “the responsible person” should have considered the materials used for external cladding, insulation and wall systems to ensure that these features would not assist fire spread.
Fire Safety Risk Assessment for Student Accommodation
Legislation requires that landlords carry out Fire Safety Risk Assessments in all areas of the properties. As a landlord, you will have a significant level of responsibility to carry out Fire Safety Risk Assessments, identifying potential fire hazards and ensuring complete fire safety. A Fire Safety Risk Assessment will identify any fire hazards and who is at risk and decide if anything needs to be done to remove or reduce that risk.
Any properties that do not comply with fire safety legislation can be inspected by fire inspection officers and there can be legal action taken in respect of prohibition or enforcement notices.
Fire Safety Equipment for Student Accommodation
The most common items of fire safety equipment used in student accommodation are interlinking fire alarms, networked fire alarm systems, carbon monoxide detectors, fire doors, fire extinguishers and fire blankets. Stove guards can also be used in high-risk environments as they can detect high temperatures and cut off electricity to the cooker in order to prevent a potential fire outbreak.
Smoke control plays an essential part in protecting means of escape in residential buildings. Fire Safety Risk Assessments ought to assess the suitability of the smoke control system and that there is sufficient evidence that the systems are maintained.
“Responsible Persons” should ensure that their Fire Safety Risk Assessments evaluate the performance of any fire doors within their premises and provide, where possible, that test evidence/certification is available to confirm performance.
Ensure Fire Safety in Your Student Accommodation
Fire safety measures that you need to have in place:
- Smoke or heat detectors should be installed in every bedroom and kitchen and in some properties, depending on the building design, may also include sprinklers, wet risers and automatic smoke ventilation
- Fire detection systems in all of the buildings
- Fire alarms should be connected to a central monitoring service in the vast majority of the buildings
- All fire safety systems are subject to routine servicing and maintenance in accordance with British Standards
Consulting a compliance expert will ensure that you comply with all regulations.
Got a question about fire and safety regulations for student accommodation? Need help with a Fire Safety Risk Assessment or installing a Fire Alarm System? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
Following the recommendations of BS5839 Part 1 2017 (Fire Alarm British Standard), it is a mandatory requirement to have an up to date, clear and accurate Fire Alarm Zone Chart adjacent to your Fire Alarm Control Panel and any repeater panels you have in your premises.
The purpose of the Zone Chart is to assist persons responding to an alarm to quickly identify the specific location in the building and to help the Fire Brigade understand the building layout before they enter.
When the Fire Alarm System is installed, the building is divided into Fire Zones. Any Manual Call Point (Red Box) or Fire Detector that is fitted will trigger a particular zone when activated.
The Zone Chart shows the division of each zone area with a ‘You are Here’ arrow to identify the position of the Fire Alarm Panel. The view of the building should be orientated in relation to the Fire Alarm Panel position to minimise confusion.
What is involved in producing a Zone Chart?
- Hard copy
- Or preferably AutoCAD (dwg) format
You have a legal duty of care to dispose of waste legitimately and safely via a licensed waste carrier. Failure to do so can result in prosecution, even if you have outsourced the disposal to a third party.
The Fixfire® Extinguisher Recycling Process is your reassurance that any Fire Extinguishers we remove from your premises have been disposed of in a safe and legal manner. 97% of each processed Fire Extinguisher is recycled.
Our contracted Extinguisher Recycling Unit (ERU) is a dedicated facility offering a service for the safe processing and recycling/disposal of fire extinguishers. The facility operates closely with the local Water Authority and the Environment Agency to develop safe, efficient and environmentally friendly processes, ensuring that ISO14001 certification is upheld.
Got a question about Fire Extinguisher Disposal? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
False Fire Alarms remain a huge concern within the education sector- interrupting already carefully scheduled, planned and well-prepared lessons or even causing major disruption and distress to exams.
Clearly, these false alarms cause significant inconvenience and disruption to students, staff, and visitors. They compromise everyone’s safety in the school and present a significant risk to the local community since the Fire Brigade will prioritise the school over other emergency callouts.
Solutions you should consider:
The first and most straightforward way is to use anti-tamper products.
Fixfire® supplies a wide range of solutions designed to protect Fire Alarm Devices from inadvertent damage or deliberate misuse/vandalism.
Products include:
- Local plastic cover flaps which attach directly to manual call points.
- The stopper consists of a clear, tamperproof, tough polycarbonate cover, frame and spacer that retrofits over a break glass call point. When lifted to operate the break glass unit, its optional battery powered integral sounder emits a piercing 96dB (at 1m). Immediate attention is drawn to the area and a prankster will either run or be caught!
- A range of steel web stoppers designed to protect fire detectors and warning devices. They are constructed from heavy-duty galvanised steel rod which is plastic-coated for durability and external use.
- A range of polycarbonate enclosures are available for the protection of devices such as fire alarm control panels and associated control equipment. The enclosures combine tough rugged construction with stylish design and offer excellent protection with a key lock for authorised access.
We also provide anti-tamper devices for fire extinguishers and associated products.
KeyCall® is a patented anti-ligature Fire Alarm and Access Control call point. It is designed to use the same key as the doors, providing simple operation for staff whilst eliminating nuisance activations by service-users.
KeyCall® has been developed by Fixfire® specifically for approved applications where standard versions would be vulnerable to abuse.
It is one of the best solutions for SEN schools and it is also compatible with a wide range of Conventional and Addressable Fire Alarm Systems.
Got a question about False Fire Alarms? Need Fire Safety Compliance advice? Get in touch today!
For over 45 years, Fixfire® has been providing quality products, systems and services for Life & Property Protection. Whatever your requirement, please call our Compliance Team for expert advice and a refreshingly different approach.
Freephone 08000 891999
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