High-rise block fire evacuation procedure

Introduction

There is a 'stay put' policy for residents unless the fire is in or affecting your flat.

In the event of fire within the building, remain within your flat, keeping the doors and windows closed. Upon hearing the fire alarm, leave closing the door behind you and exit the building.

On arrival the Fire Brigade will make an assessment and will assist with evacuation if required.

When evacuating the building, leave all personal items behind, please make sure you exit the building, listen to the instructions given to you by the emergency services, and make your way to the agreed safe location which will be assigned by the emergency services during the incident.

Please take time to read this plan. It will help you know what you should do, both day-to-day and in the event of an emergency.

This guide will tell you about

Fire Procedures

  • In the unlikely event of a fire, it is important that you know what to do. This section explains what to do in simple steps.
  • What to do after a fire.
  • We are committed to dealing with the consequences of a fire. This section explains what you need to do.

Fire Prevention

  • Preventing fires is the best way of keeping safe. This guide explains the simple steps you can take to keep your home and your building safe.

Fire Protection

  • Information about the checks we make regularly to make sure your building protects you.
  • Information and additional help we can provide to keep you safe in the event of a fire if you have a disability.
  • What the Council is doing to keep you safe
  • More information about what we are doing to keep you safe from fire.

Fire Action procedures

There is a 'stay put' policy for residents unless the fire is in or affecting your flat.

If you are safely within your flat and there is a fire elsewhere in the block

  • Remain within your flat keeping the doors and windows closed
  • On arrival the fire brigade will make an assessment and will assist with evacuation if required
  • Upon hearing the fire alarm, leave closing the door behind you and exit the building

If you discover a fire in your flat

  1. Leave at once shutting the doors behind you
  2. Leave the building by the nearest and safest route
  3. Telephone the fire brigade by dialling '999' and give your address and postcode. Wait for the fire brigade to arrive. Do not re-enter the building

If you are in a communal or external area of the building and become aware of a fire

  • If you are in an internal communal area of the building, leave at once.
  • Do not enter the building if you are in an external area
  • Alert the fire brigade by telephoning '999'

Leaving the building

  • Do not use lifts
  • Do not re-enter the building until instructed to do so
  • Move to a safe location away from the building

What to do following a fire

We understand that in the rare event of a fire it could be extremely distressing for you. We are committed to helping you recover from a fire should one occur. After the fire is extinguished by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, our first role is to make sure that the building is safe to re-occupy. We will help find alternative accommodation if this is needed. Call our Customer Service Centre on 01865 249811.

Fire Prevention

The best way to way to avoid a fire is to make sure that fire prevention measures in your home and in your building are effective.

We are here to help with this. If you have any concerns, please contact our Building Safety Resident Engagement Officer by emailing towerblocks@oxford.gov.uk or by calling 07485 975203.

There are simple steps you can take to make your home safer:

Cooking

  • Do not leave cooking unattended
  • Turn off all cooking appliances when not in use
  • Keep towels, oven gloves, packaging and other items away from hobs
  • Keep toasters away from combustible materials and do not use them underneath wall-mounted units

Electrical equipment

  • Do not overload extension leads
  • Make sure that plugs are plugged in firmly
  • Do not use damaged equipment or damaged cables. Get them repaired by a professional
  • Keep combustible materials away from socket points and cables
  • Do not plug more than one powerful appliance (such as a kettle or heater) into an extension lead

We have included some links which provide some helpful information on keeping your electrical products working safely:

Fridges, freezers, washing machines, tumble driers and dishwashers (white goods)

Visit the government's Product recalls and alerts at GOV.UK website to check that your white goods are safe and not subject to a product recall.

Heaters

  • If you choose to use a portable heater, make sure it is never located near to furniture, clothing, or other combustible materials
  • Choose a portable heater that is safe – do not use radiant bar heaters. Oil-filled radiator heaters are a safer option

Candles and incense sticks

  • Never leave candles burning unattended
  • Ideally, use battery-powered candles or oil burners in place of traditional flame
  • Make sure they are completely away from curtains, furniture, or other combustible materials, and that you fully extinguish them after use
  • Use a proper tray or holder placed on a non-combustible surface

Smoking

  • Smoking is the most common cause of fire fatalities
  • If you smoke, ensure you have a suitable ashtray that cannot tip over
  • Make sure that you fully extinguish your cigarette in the ashtray
  • Empty your ashtray regularly
  • Do not dispose of your cigarette out of a window or off your balcony
  • Avoid smoking in bed
  • Smoking is prohibited in all communal areas

Enclosed Balconies (if you have one)

  • Use of barbecues is not permitted
  • Do not cook on enclosed balconies
  • Do not store combustible items on enclosed balconies
  • Avoid storing bottles or mirrors; these can focus sunlight and start fires
  • Avoid use of soft furnishings on any furniture on your enclosed balcony
  • Preferably use metal furniture on your balcony
  • Take extra care if smoking on your balcony, and do not dispose of cigarettes over the edge of your enclosed balcony

Housekeeping

  • Keep routes to your front door clear so you can escape in an emergency
  • Never leave or store items in communal areas. These could cause obstructions and trip hazards and be a fire hazard if they are combustible
  • If anyone leaves anything in the communal areas, please report it to the Estate Officer for your block so we can remove it for everyone’s safety
  • Do not dump or store items next to or within the building in external areas
  • Do not leave mirrors by windows; these can focus sunlight and start fires
  • The storage and charging of e-scooters and e-bikes are strictly prohibited in all common areas of our buildings
  • The Council would advise that you avoid storing or charging e-scooters or e-bikes in your flat at any time, given that these present a significant risk to your safety. There are public hire e-bikes and e-scooters, if you wish to use these, which are much safer
  • Do not store petrol or any other fuel inside your property

Waste Disposal

Dos

  • Put your waste into small bags
  • Tie your bags first and then put them down the chute
  • Recycle your waste into the correct bins

Do nots

  • Do not force bags down the chute
  • Do not put hazardous or toxic materials down the chute
  • Do not put e-cigarettes or vapes down the chute
  • Do not dispose of batteries or items that contain batteries down the chute
  • Do not put electrical items down the chute

Arson

Sadly, fires are started deliberately every year and cause serious damage.

  • Be vigilant to anti-social behaviour and report it to us
  • Deliberate damage and setting off small fires can quickly escalate into more serious issues
  • Be aware of tailgaters – people who follow you through communal entrance doors, without using a key fob
  • Make sure that housekeeping is well managed within your home, the building, and the external areas

Fire Protection

  • Communal fire detection and alarm system
  • Your building has a communal alarm system, with heat and smoke detectors in each flat, as well as smoke detectors in the communal areas
  • On hearing the communal alarm, you should immediately evacuate the building and not re-enter until you are told you can by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service or the Council
  • The fire alarm panel is in the lobby area on the ground floor
  • If at any stage there is a fault warning or beeping, please let the Council know immediately by calling 01865 249811
  • Do not interfere with fire detection and alarm system equipment or cover any detectors. This equipment is vital for the protection of all residents within the building

Compartmentation

  • Your building is built using fire-resistant walls and floors around flats
  • These, along with your flat entrance fire door, will contain a fire to the flat in which it starts for a period of time while you escape
  • Do not allow anyone to create holes in your flat walls or floors and report any holes to the Council for repair

Sprinkler System within your flat

  • Sprinkler systems are not to be tampered with and prevented from operating in the way they are intended
  • You must not obstruct sprinkler heads with furniture or appliances
  • You must not paint over the sprinkler heads
  • You must not hang anything from the sprinkler heads
  • Report any defects or signs of leaking to the Council so that we can have it repaired

Sprinkler System in communal areas

  • These sprinkler heads are located within the bin shed and resident storage cupboards
  • You must not obstruct sprinkler heads with furniture or appliances
  • You must not hang anything from the sprinkler heads
  • Report any defects or signs of leaking to the Council so that we can have it repaired

Sprinkler System Checks

  • It is a legal requirement that the Council checks the sprinkler system within the flat and storage cupboards every year
  • You must provide access to the Council to enable us to do this. Failure to do so may lead to legal action being taken against you in accordance with the terms of your tenancy or lease agreement

Fire doors within your flat

  • All doors within your flat should provide some level of protection against fire, even if they are not designated fire doors
  • Close your doors at night, particularly your kitchen and living room doors – this should hold back a fire while you escape
  • If a fire does occur, close all doors when you make your escape, if it is safe to do so
  • Fire doors should be kept closed when not in use

Your flat entrance door

  • You must not remove or tamper with fire doors in your flat, or your flat entrance door. Doing so is a criminal offence and you may be prosecuted
  • Your flat entrance door is critical to containing a fire and any smoke within your flat. It should help protect you, your family and your neighbour’s while exiting the building
  • It is critical that your flat entrance door has a self-closing device, intumescent strips and/or smoke seals – please inform the Council as soon as possible if this is missing or does not work so that we can have them repaired
  • If a fire occurs in your flat, make sure that when you escape, your flat entrance door has fully closed behind you.
  • You must not drill/screw anything into your door or frame; this will affect its ability to contain fire and smoke

Flat entrance door checks

  • If you live in a building that has an upper storey that is over 11 meters, it is a legal requirement that the Council have your fire doors checked every year. You must provide access to the Council’s contractor to enable them to do this. Failure to do so may lead to legal action being taken against you in accordance with the terms of your tenancy or lease agreement

Fire doors in communal areas

  • Fire doors in the communal areas protect staircases and other escape routes from smoke
  • Do not wedge these doors open
  • The Council is responsible for having these inspected every three months
  • If the door becomes faulty, report it to the Council so that we can have it repaired

Statutory checks

  • In buildings over 11 meters, the Council must have their nominated contractor check all communal fire safety equipment every month and record those checks. Information relating to these checks can be provided to residents when requested

Smoke ventilation

  • In many Council owned buildings, there are windows or openings that are designed to keep escape routes clear of smoke.
  • These can be used by fire-fighters during a fire to keep escape routes clear
  • Do not interfere with this equipment, it can be critical to keeping you, your family, your neighbours, and fire-fighters safe

Escape routes

  • It is vitally important that everyone can escape quickly in the event of fire
  • You must not install locks or security gates on any escape routes

Wayfinding signs

  • If your building is over 11 metres tall, there is a requirement to have wayfinding signs for fire-fighters in an emergency. These signs must be provided on every floor
  • You must not tamper with or remove any fire notices or signs

Access and facilities for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

It is vital that Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service can quickly get to any fire in or around your building.

  • Do not block hydrants (which are coloured yellow)
  • Do not block dry riser outlets or inlets
  • Do not block vehicle access routes
  • Do not install security gates to your flat

Planning for emergencies with your family

  • The best way to prepare yourself for a fire is to have a clear plan in your mind of what you will do if a fire does occur
  • Think about who you will help first - will this be your children, or an elderly relative? What will you do about any pets?
  • Planning for your evacuation can make the process much quicker and safer should a fire occur

Secure Information Boxes

The Council has provided secure information boxes (SIBs) in all our buildings over 11 metres. These contain information for use by fire- fighters in an emergency.

Information for Disabled People

The Council recognises that disabled people may be particularly vulnerable during a fire, and we are committed to helping to plan for the safety of all our residents.

Some residents may have difficulty in physically travelling to escape from a fire within their flat. Other residents might have hearing impairments that means that they might not hear their alarms.

For anyone that needs help or support, the Council will arrange to:

  • Provide you with a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP). This is a plan for keeping you safe in an emergency
  • This will be either by allowing you to evacuate safely yourself with the aid of specific equipment or information, or by establishing a process whereby you may require and receive assistance from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
  • Carry out a Person-Centred Fire Risk Assessment (PCFRA), where we will discuss your needs with you and decide how best to help you keep safe from fire

We are here to help; please let us know if your condition changes. To help us to help you, contact us by phone on 01865 249811 or email landlordservices@oxford.gov.uk.

What the Council is doing to keep you safe

Buildings over 18 metres in height:

  • Carry out a Type 1 Fire Risk Assessment every year
  • Carry out a Fire Risk Assessment review in the anniversary month of the Type 1 Fire Risk Assessment

The Council is carrying out a substantial program of fire safety checks and improvement works.

These include:

  • Appointing a Building Safety Manager to improve resident safety and engagement
  • Preparing Building Safety Cases for all buildings 18 metres or above
  • Carrying out regular fire risk assessments and reviews
  • Carrying out regular fire door and housekeeping checks
  • Resident inspections with Council officers to identify fire safety issues or concerns
  • Carrying out testing and maintenance of relevant fire safety equipment

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