FIRE SAFETY
Fire Safety is clearly very important. Not only preventing fires in the first place but also dealing with them should they occur. As a flat owner it is essential you read and understand these, you take steps to reduce risk of fire starting in your flat and you know what to do in the event of one happening.
Clearly many owners let their flats so it is your responsibility to ensure your tenants are provided with this information, they fully understand this information and they take as much care as you would if you were living there. Please provide them with copies of the Fire Risk Assessment and Health and Safety Rules and Fire Safety Advice in this document of what to do in the event of a fire. It is the flat owners responsibility to ensure tenants understand all the rules if English is not their first language. You must give these rules to existing tenants annually and you must also provide these to all new tenants at the start of the tenancy. If any agent manages the property you must ensure they provide this information.
Any breaches of fire rules will be treated very seriously and will lead to additional costs to the owner of the flat regardless of whether it is owner occupied or tenanted. Copies of these rules can also be found in the Notes to Accounts Information issued to owners annually along with their accounts statements.
Please note that residents and visitors use the communal areas at their own risk. Any property liability issues must be directed to the property insurance provider and not to Flatcare.
FIRE SAFETY ADVICE FOR RESIDENTS
All owners must ensure tenants are aware of this. This information should be provided annually and at every tenant change. It is the flat owner’s responsibility to ensure tenants understand all the rules if English is not their first language.
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. Ideally use an electric fryer.
• Make sure cigarettes are put out properly, use a proper ashtray and don’t smoke in bed. NEVER smoke in the communal hallway.
• Don’t overload electrical sockets.
• Turn off appliances at the socket when not in use.
• 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.
Keep safe and plan your escape
If your home is not already provided with smoke alarms, fit one in your entrance hallway. For even better protection, fit one in your lounge and fit a heat alarm in your kitchen.
Your flat is in a building designed to be fire-resisting. A fire should not spread from one flat to another, so that you need not leave your home if there is a fire elsewhere in the block. That said, if in doubt, get out.
Always leave if your flat is affected by smoke or heat or if told to by the fire service.
Your stairway is designed to be safe for escape throughout the course of a fire. Always use the stairway to descend to ground level if escaping.
Do Not Leave Your Belongings or Rubbish in Corridors/ Stairway.
This could affect you and your neighbours if there was a fire.
If you are in a corridor or stairway and you notice a fire, leave the building immediately and, if safe to do so, alert other residents in the immediate vicinity on your way out (knock on their doors). Items left may be removed without notice nor compensation
Do Not Put Yourself at Risk. Do Not Return to Your Flat Until It Is Safe to Do So.
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.
Information supplied from document published by Local Government Association and distributed to all residents by Flatcare Management Ltd, the managing agent for the communal areas of this block. Residents use the communal areas at their own risk. Flatcare is not responsible or liable for the safety of residents and visitors.