Residents in University Accommodation
Stay safe when frying your breakfast!
Whether youre frying your breakfast, straightening your hair, using a toaster or lighting candles - if you're living in University-provided accommodation or off-campus in a shared flat, it's important to know how to stay safe to avoid fire hazards. We ask all students to watch this short video , made by Campuslife, so that you know what to do in case of a fire, and to help you avoid fire hazards happening in the first place. Please take a few minutes to watch it so you stay safe at Essex. Also, please read read the tips below.
- Watch the fire safety video (you will need your University name and password)
Automatic Fire Detection and Warning System
The building is fitted with a sophisticated system. There are interlinked smoke and heat detectors in common areas and individual smoke detector units in bedrooms. These units are necessarily sensitive. The bedroom detectors are not linked to the main system. This gives you the chance to silence them if you do not have a fire. Tampering with or damaging the equipment is a potential disciplinary offence.
Common causes of false alarms are:
- Smoke from cooking if the kitchen door is wedged open
- Heavy smoking (open a window if smoking heavily)
- Steam from the showers if the door is left open
- Use of aerosols (ie hairspray) near a detector
Bear in mind that the above will prompt an evacuation. You will not be popular with the other residents, you may have to stand outside in the cold and rain for some time, you will be preventing the Fire Service from being able to attend real incidents elsewhere.
Students living in the "Houses", "Courts", and "Quays" are advised that smoke detectors are fitted in all corridors, lobbies and staircases. Smoking is therefore banned in these areas to avoid the detectors being activated by cigarette smoke.
Common Causes of Fire in Residences
- Smoking: Do not smoke in bed, use proper ashtrays, only empty ashtrays when you are certain there is no remaining heat.
- Unattended Cooking: Never leave cooking unattended, do not use too high a heat, be particularly careful when cooking fatty foods.
- Electrical equipment; overloaded electrics: Check that your equipment is safe with leads in good condition. Do not use multi sockets unless they are separately fused.
- Heaters and naked flames: Portable heaters and candles etc. are not allowed without express permission of the fire officer.
Evacuation
Ensure that you are familiar with the alternative routes available. The signs will direct you. Read the notice on the back of your door, it will tell you where to assemble outside. This is so that we can check that you are out and safe. Do not congregate in the doorway as you will block the entrance from the fire service.
Evacuation stewards or patrol staff will check that you have evacuated. If you are prepared to be a steward (it is safe and a vital role) please contact the Fire Officer. Failure to evacuate is a disciplinary offence usually incurring a 500 fine.
Doors
In order to protect students from outbreaks of fire, all doors within residences are fitted with self-closers and the doors are designed to hold smoke and fire back for a minimum of one half hour. It is therefore essential that doors are not wedged open and any door that fails to close fully should be reported to the Accommodation Office for attention.
Naked flames
Accommodation Regulations state that:
The use of lighted candles, tea-lights, aromatic oil heaters, joss sticks or any other device which has a naked flame, other than smokers materials, is prohibited in University owned or administered residential accommodation except with the prior written permission of the Registrar & Secretary.
Candles and other prohibited devices will be removed from residential accommodation by University staff including where these are for display purposes only.
The Registrar & Secretary will give permission only in exceptional circumstances, for example, where candles are to be used for religious purposes and where the lighting of candles is accepted practice for that form of religious worship.
The precaution to be adopted for the safe use in these cases will be defined by the University's Fire Safety Officer and must be followed. In no circumstances will permission be given for unattended lit candles or devices.