Fire Safety. in tower blocks. This booklet has important information to keep you, your family and your neighbours safe.

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1 Fire Safety in tower blocks If you need help or advice about fire safety, please contact Nigel Sherry, Health and Safety Coordinator, at: Newport City Homes Nexus House Mission Court Newport NP20 2DW Please keep this important booklet for future reference Tel: (01633) Out of hours: Tel: (01633) Minicom: (01633) Website: Or call into one of our neighbourhood offices. East Office, 8-11, Ringland Centre, Ringland, Newport NP19 9HG West Office, 8-11, Bettws Centre, Bettws, Newport NP20 7TN Newport City Homes Housing Association Ltd April 2013 This booklet has important information to keep you, your family and your neighbours safe. In association with

2 How safe is my flat? This booklet explains the safety features within your tower block and what Newport City Homes (NCH) does to ensure and maintain the safety of the building. It also tells you what you can do to help in keeping you, your family and neighbours safe. Please be assured that tower blocks are built to be fire resistant. Fires rarely occur and when they do they very rarely spread further than one or two rooms. There is a one hour barrier between each of the floors in your tower block and half an hour in the walls of each flat. Your flat is fitted with fire resistant doors that will withstand fire for half an hour. These barriers provide enough time for the Fire Service to attend an incident and put out a fire before it has a chance to spread. This fire protection means that a fire on one floor will have very little effect on those living on other floors. This is a result of the building not being originally designed for mass evacuation. The staircases are not designed for every resident to escape at once. It is easier for the Fire Service to respond to an incident if there are less people evacuating the building as they try to gain access. This is known as a Stay Put Policy. However if you are affected by heat or smoke it is crucial that you leave your flat. You must also leave if you are told to do so by the Fire Service or the Police What to do in the event of a fire If a fire breaks out in your flat, alert others in your flat and keep calm. Get out of your flat and out of the building. Walk, do not run. As you leave the building try, if possible, to close doors behind you and plan your escape route. Make sure everybody knows how to leave the building. Use the stairs, not the lift and evacuate the building through the designated fire exits. If the fire breaks out elsewhere in the building, call the Fire Service on 999. Never assume that someone else has made the call you could save a life. EXIT

3 What happens if my mobility is impaired? If your mobility is impaired and there is a fire in your flat, evacuate your flat but do not use the lift to escape the building. Go to the staircase and wait for the Fire Service, you will be protected by another fire resistant door and the Fire Service will rescue you. If you have any mobility issues, please make your Neighbourhood Officer aware of these. What if I cannot get out because the fire is blocking my escape? Plan a safe room in your home just in case you cannot escape. It is best if the safe room has a window or telephone and access to water. Put clothing, towels and/or bedding around the bottom of the door to block any smoke If you have access to water, wet the door if it becomes hot Open the window and wave a sheet or something similar to get the Fire Service s attention. Electrical Safety Remember: Hot plugs and sockets, fuses that blow for no reason, flickering lights and scorch marks on sockets or plugs are signs of danger Check electrical leads and plugs for wear and tear and faulty wiring. Frayed leads or exposed internal wires are fire risks and should be replaced immediately Do not overload sockets use one plug in each socket. If you have to use a fused adaptor make sure you keep the output to no more than 13 amps Keep electrical leads, plugs and appliances away from water Keep electrical appliances clean and in good working order, and have them serviced regularly, particularly washing machines and tumble dryers that may be left on overnight Never buy an electrical appliance without knowing it is safe to use. If the appliance is second hand always have it checked by a qualified electrician before you use it Switch off and unplug electrical appliances if you are not using them, unless they are designed to be left on Store electric blankets either flat or rolled to protect the electrical wiring Position portable heaters against the wall; never place them along your escape route or near flammable items Lights and bulbs can get very hot, be careful where you position them Always use the correct fuse rating for the appliance being used. 4 5

4 The Dos & Don ts Your safety depends on your neighbours and theirs on you. DO of tower block living Always be aware of the smaller issues that affect safety. DO NOT keep the fire doors closed. They will help to slow down the spread of fire and will give you extra time so you can safely exit the building keep your landings and corridors free of objects and rubbish, including flammable items, that could obstruct or impede your exits EXIT store gas cylinders, paraffin or other highly flammable liquids in your flat or shed park or block access to tower block flats. Access roads and gates are designed so that fire appliances can get as close as possible to fight fires wedge doors open. Remove wedges if you find them leave objects on the landings that could obstruct or impede escape make sure that cigarettes are extinguished properly give access to people you do not know. Only allow access to those who are visiting you, if they are visiting another flat, let that neighbour give them access smoke in communal areas, including the landing and lifts it is against the law to do so place rubbish in small bags when using the refuse chute. A blocked chute can back up quickly and become a fire hazard. place candles and tea lights on, or near, materials that could burn or catch fire e.g. curtains 6 7

5 Smoke Alarms A smoke alarm is a warning device that detects smoke at the earliest stage of a fire. It gives you vital time to get out alive. Smoke alarms should be fitted ideally on hallway and landing ceilings. Do not put a smoke alarm in the kitchen or bathroom as it can be set off accidently. We test and inspect smoke detectors / alarms as part of our annual safety inspection. Smoke detectors / alarms are either battery operated or connected to the main electrical circuit of your home. If the detector / alarm is battery operated, please contact us and we will arrange to replace this for a hardwired version. Remember to test the detector / alarm weekly, never remove the unit from the base. Take special care when carrying out painting near a smoke detector / alarm to ensure you do not to paint over the expiry date label attached to the outside of the unit. If your smoke detector / alarm is faulty, you must report it immediately. You can do this by contacting us on (01633) or by making a repair request via our website at Cooking safely Kitchen fires are the most common causes of accidental house fires in Wales. Each year about 1,000 fires at home are caused by cooking. Never leave your cooking unattended Do not use matches or lighters to light gas cookers, spark devices are safer Keep electrical leads and items which can catch fire easily (clearly) away from the cooker and toaster Keep the oven, toaster, hob and grill clean. A build-up of fat, crumbs and grease can catch fire Keep electrical leads and appliances away from water Ensure you use appliances as per the manufacturer s guidelines. 8 9

6 Other safety features The dry riser is an empty pipe that runs from the ground to the top floor with an outlet on each landing. In the event of a fire, the Fire Service connect to the mains water at ground level and pump the water to the level where the fire is. This booklet has been developed in partnership with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. There is no requirement for smoke alarms or detectors in the communal areas. If you see a fire door, dry riser, refuse chute or other safety feature damaged or vandalised then report it immediately to us. If you have any queries regarding fire safety, please contact Nigel Sherry, Health and Safety Coordinator, on (01633) or nigel.sherry@newportcityhomes.com. Newport City Homes is committed to safeguard the welfare of all our residents, staff and premises through agreed fire risk assessment protocols. This partnership presents the opportunity to work towards a consistent approach on all fire safety issues. Nigel Sherry, Health and Safety Coordinator, Newport City Homes. Newport City Homes have demonstrated the importance that they place on fire safety. Our partnership with them will provide a positive attitude to enabling compliance with all fire safety legislation. Andy Peterson, Group Manager, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service