NEED TO KNOW: YOUR SAFETY

3.0 FIRE SAFETY

There are more than 70,000 fires in homes across the UK each year. You can reduce the risk of a fire starting in your home by being aware of the risks in the kitchen, being sensible with cigarettes and candles and handling electrical appliances with care.

You should test your alarm weekly by pressing the small button marked 'test'. If working correctly, the alarm will sound for 10 to 20 seconds then stop.

Once a month it is also advisable to run a vacuum nozzle over the alarm (if you can reach it safely), to remove any dust or cobwebs.

If you think your smoke alarm is broken or it starts to 'beep' (this means the backup battery needs replacing), you should contact Axis (see page 18).

Don’t smoke in bed or overfill ashtrays.

Don’t leave candles alight when you are not in the same room.

Don’t leave hot oil or fat unattended while you are cooking.

Don’t overload sockets or leave appliances plugged into the socket when you are not using them.

Don’t use portable electrical appliances that have not been tested.

Don’t hang clothes within a metre of a heater.

Your fire door is an important safety feature. You must inform us if your door is not in good repair, or where the self closer is not working. You must provide us access each year to inspect your flat fire door.

You must not use or store LPG cylinders or appliances, petrol, diesel, fuel, paraffin, dangerous chemicals or any other similar substance in your home or in any shed or garage that you rent from Swan.

Fire Doors

Front doors in our flats and other doors in your communal areas are fire doors and designed to withstand a fire for a minimum of 30 minutes. This is why it is important that you keep fire doors closed at all times.

NEED TO KNOW: YOUR SAFETY

3.1 BALCONIES AND OUTDOOR AREAS

Fires can occur on balconies and outdoor areas, which can easily spread to inside the building. To ensure the risk of a fire starting is reduced:

Never use barbecues (including disposables) on your balcony - they can start a fire that could spread to other parts of the building.

White goods such as fridge freezers and tumble dryers must not be stored on balconies. They are not suitable for outdoor use and are a potential source of ignition.

Do not store BBQs (or any type of fuel or flammable liquid, BBQ gas and starter fuel) on your balcony or in your outdoor area close to the building.

Do not drop cigarettes on your balcony floor or over your balcony. It may cause a fire on another balcony or in the outside area of your building that could spread. We recommend that you don’t smoke on your balcony, if you do smoke on your balcony or in your garden, use an ashtray and dispose of smoking materials carefully and safely.

If a fire breaks out on your balcony, it could spread much faster than inside your building. While plants and a few items of patio furniture are okay, ideally you should keep your balcony completely clear.

NEED TO KNOW: YOUR SAFETY

3.2 FIRE ESCAPE PLANNING

It is important that you know and understand what to do in an emergency.

Know your plan

In case of fire, it is important to understand the evacuation procedure for your building (evacuation procedures will either require you to ‘stay put, if safe’ or to ‘fully evacuate’).

If you live in a block of flats, you will have been given a copy of the fire evacuation strategy for your new home at the start of your tenancy. This is sometimes called a 'Fire Action Plan'. This plan tells you what to do if there is a fire in your home or other part of the building. It is important you read it carefully and understand it.

Fire action notices can also be found on the ground floor and adjacent to lifts (where provided) in all blocks and include information on what to do in the event of a fire in the building.

Living in a block of flats

In accordance with national guidance, all our purpose-built blocks of flats operate a defend in place, commonly referred to as 'stay put, if safe' policy. If we need to change this policy, we will let you know in writing and provide a copy of the new guidance for your home.

Living in a house converted into flats

Flat conversions or converted street properties have a different fire evacuation strategy or plan to purpose-built blocks of flats. This is because the structure of the building is unable to prevent fire spreading between flats, as designed to do in a purpose built block of flats.

The fire action plan for all converted properties is 'full evacuation'. This means if there is a fire in your home or another part of the building, everyone must leave immediately.

Person-centred risk assessments

If you or someone in your household might find it difficult to leave your home in an emergency, or you're concerned about a vulnerable neighbour, you should contact your Neighbourhood Officer, or email us at firesafety@swan.org.uk. One of our officers will then arrange to visit you at home to talk about your concerns.

With your consent, we may arrange for a followup visit with one of our Fire Risk Advisors or officers from the relevant fire service for your area. This is to talk to you about what steps need to be taken to keep you safe and ensure you know what to do if there is a fire in your building.