Fire safety advice for residents

Protecting you and your household

The easiest way to protect your home and family from fire is with a working smoke alarm
A smoke alarm can provide an early warning of a fire and allow you to make your escape –
but only if it is working. You are more than twice as likely to die in a fire if you do not have a
working smoke alarm.
Test your smoke alarms regularly.
Never disconnect or take the batteries out of your smoke alarm.

You can prevent fire from happening by taking a few simple steps

Don’t leave cooking unattended, and avoid leaving children in the kitchen alone with cooking on the hob.
Be especially vigilant when cooking with oil. Don’t overfill chip pans and NEVER throw water on a chip pan fire.
Make sure cigarettes are put out properly, use a proper ashtray and don’t smoke in bed.
Don’t overload electrical sockets.
Turn off appliances when not in use. Don’t even leave them on standby.
Keep matches and lighters out of reach and sight of children.
Make sure candles are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire – like curtains. Children shouldn’t be left alone with lit candles

Remember

Test your smoke alarm once a week.
Keep the exit route from your flat clear so you can escape in an emergency.
Close doors at night, especially the doors to the lounge and kitchen to prevent fire spreading.
Plan your escape NOW. Be prepared and don’t wait until it happens

London Fire Brigade now provide an online Home Fire Safety Checker which provides tailored advice for your home, or the home of someone you care for.
Home Fire Safety Checker (HFSC) | London Fire Brigade (london-fire.gov.uk)

For residents in Hertfordshire –
Fire safety home visits, school visits and open days | Hertfordshire County Council

Alternatively, you can book a home visit Book a home fire safety visit | London Fire Brigade (london-fire.gov.uk)

For residents in Hertfordshire -
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue: Arrange a Safe and Well visit

Flat entrance doors

Flat entrance doors play a critical part in ensuring fire safety of your block, it is important of maintaining and not interfering with the operation of the self-closing devices on flat entrance fire doors. Fire doors must not be altered as that can reduce their fire resistance. To ensure flat entrance doors are in good condition and provide the correct fire resistance, residents should give access when required for Origin Housing competent contractors and fire risk assessors to access and inspect/maintain fire doors as part of our legal obligations.

It is critical that you flat entrance door has a self-closing device – please inform the Origin Housing as soon as possible if this is missing or does not work so that we can repair it.

Fire safety on balconies

Fire risk on balconies can be increased by the use of balconies for storage of combustible materials (things that would burn in a fire). Following new advice from the London Fire Brigade we’d like you to remove anything combustible from your balcony and take extra care to make sure cigarettes or any other smoking materials are completely extinguished.

BBQ's should not be used on balconies under any circumstances. A number of recent fires in and around London have been caused by:

Falling embers burning items on the ground below
BBQ’s being close to other flammable objects
Disposable barbecues being left unattended after use
The risks are increased by the fact that wind speeds are stronger at a greater height.
The position of a BBQ on a balcony and/or the layout of balconies can also affect ease of escape for building occupants.

However, barbecues are not the only potential balcony hazard. Fire pits, patio heaters and smoking all pose additional risks.

For more information:
FIRE Safety in Flats (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Fire Kills Lets Prevent It: Fire Safety for People with Sight, Hearing or Mobility Issues (publishing.service.gov.uk)

If you have any questions please email enquiries@originhousing.org.uk