Fire Safety

Hall Leaders Info

FIRE ROUTINE PROCEDURES - WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

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If you Discover a Fire

  1. Raise the alarm at once by operating the nearest Call Point. Notify Reception (Ext 2481) of fire location - call for assistance and if trained to use fire extinguishers and if you feel that you can easily extinguish the fire, attempt to do so with the fire extinguishing equipment provided, but do not take personal risks.
  2. If you cannot tackle the fire, if the fire should get out of control, or if your escape route is threatened, leave the building quickly and calmly by the nearest available escape route, wherever possible assisting in evacuating residents. Do not stop to collect personal belongings. Do not use the lifts.

On Hearing the Evacuation Signal (Continuous Sound of the Fire Alarm)

Leave the building quickly and calmly by the nearest available escape route, wherever possible assisting in evacuating residents. Do not stop to collect personal belongings. Do not use lifts.

Fire Assembly

  1. The assembly point is in the designated car park
  2. Do not re-enter the building until informed it is safe to do so by the Fire Control Officer or Fire Brigade
  3. If you believe that someone is missing, inform the Fire Control Officer at the assembly point

Calling the Fire Brigade

  1. It is the responsibility of the Reception/Night Porter Personnel to ensure that the Fire Brigade is called by dialling 999 immediately the fire alarm is sounded. State the name and address of the premises and if known, the location and type of fire.
  2. Wait for the Fire Brigade operator to repeat the information back, confirming that the message has been correctly received before hanging up.

Hall Leader

  1. On hearing the alarm of fire, check that the standing fire evacuation procedures have been initiated and ensure that the area under your responsibility is fully evacuated. Make sure that toilets, bathrooms, kitchen, etc are checked.
  2. Determine location of fire and provide assistance or instruct residents at the scene to leave the premises as appropriate. Then proceed to the assembly point, closing fire doors on route and liaison with other University staff. Carryout a role call if anyone is not accounted for notify the Fire Control Officer immediately.
  3. If the assembly point is affected by the fire, move all persons to another safe area, further from the building.
  4. Remember that evacuating people is sometimes difficult, because if they cannot see smoke or fire, they are usually reluctant to leave the building.
  5. If you cannot persuade residents to leave in the event of a fire proceed to the assembly point and inform the Fire Brigade of their location. Do not allow anyone to enter the building until informed it is safe to do so by the Fire Officer in charge.
  6. It is essential to remain calm throughout the evacuation procedure. By setting an example to others you can minimise the possibility of persons being injured due to panic.

Disabled Persons

  1. It is necessary to make special arrangements for disabled persons.
  2. Certain disabilities are easily recognised, e.g. persons in wheelchairs, or who are blind, but it is not always possible to identify those with defective hearing. In this case, they might not hear the fire alarm. Management and Hall Leaders must therefore be alert to these problems.
  3. The Accommodation office should ensure that residents who are identified as being disabled in any way are notified to Management / Hall Leaders.
  4. In the event of an evacuation, disabled people must be given assistance. The degree of disability will dictate the special arrangements that are necessary to ensure their safety, which will include alerting them and assisting in their evacuation.
  5. Specialised equipment enabling deaf persons to be alerted in the event of a fire is available, e.g. flashing beacons and, for persons asleep, vibrating alarms.

Leaving a building where there is a fire

  1. If you suspect that there is a fire on the other side of a door, do not open it unless you really have to, e.g. if you believe that someone is trapped on the other side. First touch the door handle lightly with the back of your hand to sense the temperature, which will indicate the severity of the fire. If the door handle is hot, it is unlikely that anyone on the other side will be alive. Also, remember that the room could be full of smoke and by opening the door, oxygen will be allowed to enter, causing a "flashover" which could ignite your clothes. Therefore DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR.
  2. If you consider it safe to proceed, open the door very slowly, gripping the handle firmly, and shielding yourself as much as possible, by keeping close to the floor and door. BE PREPARED TO quickly close the door if necessary.
  3. If you are caught in a smoke-filled area, crawl on hands and knees, keeping your face as close to the floor as possible where the air will be clearer.
  4. If your escape is cut off, go into a room with a window, closing the door behind you. Try to attract attention by shouting and banging on the window and await rescue by the Fire Brigade who usually arrive in a matter of minutes.

If your clothing catches fire

  1. Lie down immediately to prevent flames from travelling up to your face and then ROLL ACROSS THE FLOOR
  2. Whilst rolling, if you can wrap yourself in a coat, etc to smother the flames, so much the better, but DO NOT DELAY LYING DOWN AND ROLLING ACROSS THE FLOOR TO SMOTHER THE FLAMES

If someone else's clothing catches on fire

  1. Immediately force them to the ground
  2. Grab a coat or fire blanket and wrap it around them to smother the flames, BE CAREFUL that your own clothing does not catch on fire
  3. if a fire extinguisher or hose reel is readily available, these can be used.

MEANS OF ESCAPE

  1. Fire Doors are provided to prevent the spread of heat and smoke; always keep them shut when not in use. DO NOT remove self-closing devices or wedge them open.
  2. Keep corridors and stairways clear of storage and waste material at all times.
  3. Always ensure that FIRE EXIT DOORS can be readily opened from the inside without the use of a key.
  4. Keep areas outside FIRE EXIT DOORS clear of obstructions.

FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT

  1. All fire extinguishers must be hung on brackets, securely fixed to the wall with the carrying handle one meter from floor level.
  2. Hose reels supply water for use as per a portable water extinguisher described below.

Identification and Use of Portable Fire Fighting Equipment

All new extinguishers comply with European Standard BS EN3 which requires all of them to have red bodies and optional zones of colour up to 5% of the surface area for identification of contents, as below.

Zone Colour Code

Type

Used for fires involving
Red Water Wood, paper and fabric (not electrical equipment)
Black CO2 Electrical equipment
Blue Dry Powder Flammable liquids
Cream Foam Fat and oil (not electrical equipment)

Fire Blankets are provided in food preparation areas.

FIGHTING A FIRE

General Principles

  1. The decision to tackle a fire is yours - if you have not been trained to use fire extinguishers, if the fire is too big or your escape is threatened, close the door on the fire and evacuate the building.
  2. Wherever possible, summon assistance before tackling the fire. Always have your back to an escape route, don't let the fire get between you and the escape route.
  3. Determine the correct type of extinguisher to use on the fire. Determine the correct method of operating by reading instructions on extinguishers.
  4. Crouch as low as possible to avoid rising heat and smoke.
  5. With the exception of oil or fat fires, aim the jet at the base of the fire and work upwards.

Fires involving Burning Liquids (Fat or Oil) in containers (Foam Extinguishers)

  1. Turn off source of heat, i.e. gas or electricity.
  2. Aim jet at back of container to allow foam to gently cover liquid.
  3. Do not stir up burning liquid by directing jet into liquid.
  4. If possible, where a lid is provided, such as with fat fryers, without touching the lid with your hands close it. If there is no lid carefully place a fire blanket over the fryer but do not risk burns to your hands arms or face. Note: Remember water is a conductor of electricity - do not use water or foam extinguishers on electrical fires.

Fires Involving Burning Liquid on the Ground (Dry Powder Extinguisher)

  1. Spread powder across surface of liquid from side to side, moving slowly forward to cover the whole of liquid.
  2. Be careful that the liquid behind you does not re-ignite.

CO2 Extinguishers

This type of extinguisher produces a gas which quickly dissipates. When you have completed discharging them leave the room; close the door of the room, cupboard or cabinet where the fire is, in order to contain the CO2 gas.

Discharged Fire Extinguishers

Discharged or partly discharged extinguishers must be removed to the Estates Department for recharging as soon as possible and marked "Empty".


 

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