IF YOU HEAR AN ALARM
Actions to be taken if you hear Alarms:
Alarms During Concierge Cover
False Alarms
If the issue is an alarm of any sort in a flat that is causing a nuisance, but not perceived to indicate a danger, then you can contact the Concierge on 07718 565779. An attempt will be made to contact the owner to address this and if approval is given and keys are available at their office they can enter to silence the alarm.
Fire
If at any time any resident is concerned about a possible fire in an apartment the fire brigade should be called on 999. Before contacting the emergency services there should be some evidence of smoke or heat other than some form of alarm. If the concierges are on site they will assist where it is safe to do so.
Burglar Alarms
An alarm is going off - what should I do?
Due to the large amount of calls the police receive about house or business alarms that have been activated accidentally or by mistake, they ask that in the first instance, wherever possible, you try to contact the homeowner or business to let them know their alarm is going off.
If you witness suspicious activity
If an alarm is going off and you have witnessed suspicious activity around the property, please call the Police on the non-emergency 101 number.
In an emergency
If you think a crime is in progress and the offenders may still be at the scene, please call 999 immediately.
Alarms Outside Concierge Working Hours
Clearly if the communal fire alarms are going off when the concierge are not on duty then the fire brigade should be called on 999 out of hours along with our out of hours team on 01223866980.
If a fire breaks out in your apartment...
If you are in the room where the fire is, leave straight away, together with anybody else, then close the door.
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Do not stay behind to try and put the fire out
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Tell everybody else in your flat about the fire and get everybody to leave
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Close doors behind you
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Do not use the lift
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Close the front door and leave the building
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Stay clear of access roads that may be used by emergency services
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Call the Fire Brigade on 999
If you see, or hear, a fire in another part of the building...
It will normally be safe to stay in your apartment
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You must leave your apartment if smoke or heat affects it or if you are instructed to do so by the Fire Service
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Do not use the lift
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Close all doors and windows
If your escape route is blocked by fire...
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Alert everyone and gather everyone into one room (if possible one with a telephone)
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DO NOT open the door of a room if it feels warm when touched with the back of the hand
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Once inside this “safe” room, close the door and pack towels, pillows, cushions or clothing around it to keep smoke out
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Go to a window, open it and shout to attract attention. Stay at the open window
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If you are on the first floor it may be possible to lower yourself from the window sill to arm’s length before dropping to the ground. First of all drop pillows or cushions to break your fall
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If there are two adults one should go first to catch the children. Pass them down slowly, stretching to full length before letting go. No one should ever jump
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If you are trapped in a higher storey, open window for fresh air until the Fire Brigade arrives
Calling the Fire Brigade
Dial 999, and provide the following information:
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Address
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Apartment no. and Block
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Floor level
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Do not re-enter the building until authorised by the fire officer
What is the ‘Stay Put’ Strategy?
The essence of the ‘Stay Put’ policy is that residents should stay inside their flat with doors and windows shut only if:
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They are not in an area directly impacted by the fire
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Living in buildings, flats and apartments that purpose built for this strategy
When a fire occurs within your flat, or in common parts of the building, you are advised to leave the premises and call the fire and rescue services.
Those who are not directly affected by the fire should remain in their flat until told otherwise by fire and rescue. Staying in your apartment will allow the emergency services to operate more efficiently. If you wish to leave you may do so as it is not legal requirement to stay put – nor is it a requirement for people evacuating a flat which is on fire not to alert other residents.
According to the local government’s ‘Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats’ guide, the ‘Stay Put’ strategy can only be adopted if it can be proven that the construction standard meets defined requirements. Simultaneous evacuation is the alternative which evacuates residents all at the same time, but this requires a detection and alert system to inform everyone in the building.
Fire safety in purpose-built blocks of flats (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Why is the Stay Put Strategy used?
There are several reasons why the ‘Stay Put’ method has been backed for many buildings as an evacuation process. The first reason is that, where concrete and fire doors are used to construct the homes, it creates a protective barrier against fire, containing it and giving fire and rescue services time to battle the blaze. Concrete might be unsightly to look at, but fire-resistant properties mean a slow transfer of heat and structural integrity for longer periods.
Secondly, in order for firefighters to do their job safely and quickly, clear corridors and stairwells help massively. If people can be kept safe from fire by the compartmentation of their dwellings, fire and rescue can focus efforts on extinguishing a fire without a need for mass panic inside a building.