Fire safety for low rise homes

You need to know what to do if there's a fire in your home.

If you find a fire in your home

• Leave your home and close the door behind you.
• Phone the Fire Brigade on 999.
• Do not stop to collect personal belongings.
• Leave the property and move away from the building to a safe area.
• Do not stop return to the building until authorised to do so.

If you discover a fire in a communal area or if you are told to evacuate

• Leave the property and move away from the building to a safe area.
• Do not stop to collect personal belongings.
• Do not stop return to the building until authorised to do so.

If you have any queries or require further information regarding these instructions, please contact your Neighbourhood Officer on 0300 123 6633.

Fire doors are specialist doors that are designed and tested to withstand the effects of fire for a specified period.

An effective fire door delays the spread of smoke and flames from one area to another.

The brushes stop the spread of smoke.

Intumescent strips, which can be found either in the door or frame expand when heated creating a seal.

The door itself will withstand fire for a minimum of 30 minutes.

You must make sure:

• Fire doors are kept shut when not in use.
• No changes are made, and the door is not tampered with in any way. This includes removing the closing device, fitting your own locks, letterbox, spyhole, or vents.

If your front door is damaged, report it immediately on 0300 123 6633.

Safety is our top priority.

These measures are in place to keep you safe:

• Building safety checks
  We carry out weekly building safety checks. The aim of the check is to make sure that escape routes are always kept clear from rubbish and materials that would prevent residents from evacuating the building safely. Fire doors are kept locked and in good condition. Any issues are identified are logged and fixed quickly. Entry and exit doors are in good working order and outside escape routes are inspected.
• Fire risk assessments
  We carry out fire risk assessments to all open and enclosed blocks. If you would like a copy of the latest fire risk assessment please contact us.
• Fire alarms
  Your home is fitted with smoke and fire detectors. 
• Fire doors and fire compartmentation
  Fire doors are used in communal areas to slow the spread of fire (for about 30 minutes to 1 hour). Our flats are also built to slow the spread of fire from one flat to another (for about 30 minutes to 1 hour). Compartmentation contains and stops the spread fire and smoke from one area to another.
• Emergency lighting systems
  Some communal areas in the buildings are fitted with an emergency lighting system to help with evacuation.
• Building and systems maintenance
  All systems installed within your building are maintained and serviced to the relevant legislation. If you would like additional information on the maintenance, servicing, and inspection of your building please contact us for further details.

Report any faults in your home, as well as faults or damage in communal areas.

To report a fault call 0300 123 6633 or report a fault through the website.

Electrics

• Keep electrics (leads and appliances) away from water.
• Always check that you use the right fuse to prevent overheating.
• Make sure an electrical appliance has a British or European safety mark when you buy it.
• Check appliances against product safety recalls.
• Certain appliances, such as washing machines, should have a single plug to themselves, as they are high powered.
• Try and keep to one plug per socket.
• Keep your eyes peeled for signs of dangerous or loose wiring such as scorch marks, hot plugs and sockets, fuses that blow, circuit-breakers that trip for no obvious reasons, or flickering lights.
• Check and replace any old cables and leads, especially if they are hidden from view.
• Unplugging appliances helps reduce the risk of fire.
• Unplug appliances when you're not using them or when you go to bed.
• An extension lead or adaptor will have a limit to how many amps it can take, so be careful not to overload them.

Portable heaters

• Try to secure heaters up against a wall to stop them falling over.
• Keep them clear from curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes.
• Do not use portable gas heaters.

Smoking

• Stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully. Put them right out.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Use a proper ashtray - never a wastepaper basket.
• Make sure your ashtray can't tip over and is made of a material that won't burn.
• Do not leave a lit cigarette, cigar or pipe lying around - they can easily fall over and start a fire.
• Take extra care if you smoke when you're tired, taking prescription drugs, or if you've been drinking. You might fall asleep and set your bed or sofa on fire.
• Keep matches and lighters out of children's reach.
• Consider buying child resistant lighters and match boxes.

Candles

• Put candles out when you leave the room, and make sure they're put out completely at night.
• Use a snuffer or a spoon to put out candles. It's safer than blowing them out when sparks can fly.
• Children shouldn't be left alone with lit candles.
• Make sure any tea lights are kept in a suitable holder.
• Make sure candles are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire - like curtains.

Keep communal doors closed

• Do not prop open any doors in the corridors.
• These are designed to stop fire spreading along the corridor.

Keep corridors, stairs and landings clear

• Do not keep furniture, motorbikes or bicycles, toys or any other large item in these areas. These could cause an obstruction or trip somebody up.

Keep your mobility scooters, e-scooters and e-bikes inside your home

• If you have a battery powered mobility device, do not keep or charge it in communal area. They can cause an obstruction and block escape routes. This can increase the likelihood of a fire.
• When stored in your home do not keep them in a place where they can hinder your escape route. 
• These devices are powered by batteries that are highly combustible. You should always make sure that they are charged in a clear space and only during the day in your home.

Keep your wheelchair in your home

• If you have a wheelchair, keep it in your home.
• Do not keep it in communal corridors. They can cause an obstruction and block escape routes.

Do not smoke in communal areas

You can smoke in your flat, or on any balcony that is used by you or your family.

You cannot smoke in any shared part of the building.

This includes:

• corridors
• stairs
• landings
• balconies
• common rooms
• laundries
• shared kitchens or toilets

It is against the law to smoke in these areas.

Dispose of your rubbish properly

• Do not leave rubbish or unwanted furniture in corridors. This is a fire hazard and could cause an obstruction or injury to someone else.
• Do not throw anything, including waste, from a balcony or window.
• Do not use the refuse chutes for anything other than general household waste. These chutes are designed for carrier bags or small bin liners, not large refuse sacks. Please do not try to force a large refuse bag full of waste into a chute as it will block the chute.
• Do not remove the waste chute cover.
• Do not leave the door to the waste chute room open (as these are designed to help prevent the spread of fire).

Keep the building secure

• Please try and keep the building secure.
• Always close the entrance door behind you, and never prop it open.
• Anybody who has official business in the building will have their own key or will carry identification with them.
• Always ask to see identification if somebody asks you to let them into the building.

Park considerately

• Please park considerately outside your home, in marked parking areas if possible.
• Do not park in any hatched area, or directly outside any access or fire exit door.
• Make sure that you leave enough space for ambulances and fire engines to get to flats and turn around.

Smoke alarms

• It is extremely important that you have a working smoke alarm in your home.
• Do not tamper with the smoke detectors in your home. They are there to give you an early warning in the event of a fire and could save your life.

For further advice on fire safety visit Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service. 

We have a nominated responsible person for fire safety:

• Mr P Mains
• Managing Director
• Town Hall and Civic Offices, Westoe Road, South Shields, NE33 2R

Make sure that you do what you can to prevent a fire from starting in your home. For more information see know what to do if there's a fire and preventing a fire.