duty to take steps to prevent fires in common partsbut youcan ensure your homeis as safe as possible too. ARMArecommends paying attentiontothe
followingpoints: nHave you gotsmoke detectors? These are the most effective way of giving vital early warn-
ingand extratimetoescape. nInstallsmoke detectorsand test them
weekly. nChangethe batteryevery year orwhen you
need to (unless it is a ten year alarm). nAre the doors in your flat in good condition and do they shut properly? Never remove them
or wedge themopen. nIf youare planning alterationstodoors and theinternallayoutofyourflat,dothink about theimplicationsfor firesafety. Contactyour landlord or agent first.
Frontdoors Your front door is a vital part of the fire safety of the block, not just for you but also your neigh- bours. It preventsfire spreadingtothe common parts-the escape routefor
theblock.Donot alteritwithout taking advice on theimplica- tions for fire safety and seeking permission fromyour landlord or
agent.Donotchangethe letter box or add cat flaps without consider- ing the questionof fire safety. Your front door should have aselfclosing device fittedtoitto meet relevant fire safety guidance for flats.
Commonparts Your landlord or agent has a legal duty to ar- range for a fire risk assessment to be carried out forthe common partsand forittobekeptunder review. But there are things you cando to help
in additionto fire safety within your flat. nDo notblock thecommonparts, theescape
route for the block. nDo not clutter the stairs, corridors and land- ings with goods or anything that can set fire
easily. nDo notstore prams,bicyclesormobility scooters in common parts without the per- mission of the landlord or agent. Permission will be denied if the fire safety of the block is
put at risk. nIf yousee things in common partsthatdo notbelongthere,movethemorreportthemto
the landlord or agent. nDonotleave rubbishinthe refuse storethat
disClaimer
Whilst every efforthasbeenmadetoensure theaccuracy of theinformationcontained in thisLesseeAdvisoryNote,itmustbe emphasisedthatbecausetheAssociationhas nocontrol over theprecisecircumstances inwhichit willbeused, theAssociation, its officers,employeesandmemberscanaccept noliability arisingout of itsuse,whether by members of theAssociationor otherwise. TheLesseeAdvisoryNote is ofageneral natureonlyandmakesnoattempttostate or conformtolegal requirements; compliance with thesemustbetheindividualuser’s ownresponsibilityandthereforeitmaybe appropriatetoseekindependentadvice.
Flat Living Issue 13, Winter
Do notput in a cat flap without first considering fire safety
is not putaway in bins. Loosematerial is easily used to set fire to the common parts of blocks.
someprinCiples oF
Fire saFety in bloCks Therearemany misunderstandings aboutthe
firesafetyofflats.Most purposebuiltflatsand modern conversions are designed with certain
principles in mind as follows. nThereisahighdegreeofcompartmentation betweeneachflat andbetween flats andthe
common parts. nEach flat is a fire resisting box. nThereisalow probability of firespread
beyond the flat of origin. nThere is a lowfire risk in common areas.
your frontdoor isavital part of thefiresafetyof theblock
If these design principles are in place then thefollowing firesafetyprincipleswillapply, subjectofcoursetothe risk assessment of
each block. nA‘stay put’ policy will apply. Thismeans that unless thefire breaksout in your flat, it is safest to stay in your flatunlessyou areasked
to leave by the fire brigade. nThere is no need for simultaneous evacua-
tion or for fire drills. nResidentsinthe flatoffire origin should evacuate andcallthe fireservice -other resi-
dents are safe to stay in their flats. nThereisnoneed forfire alarmsin common
areas or linked into flats. nThereisnoneed forfire extinguishersin common partsexceptfor plantand service rooms.
nEmergencylightingisgenerally required in common parts stairs and corridors, plant and service rooms.
Fire risk assessments
oF Commonparts It has been a legal requirement for all blocks of flats (including houses converted into two flats) to have afire risk assessment
since2006.This is an assessment of the common parts only but must include the front doors of flats,whoever owns
them.The responsibility to arrangefor theriskassessmentlieswiththe landlord, whichmay also beaResidentsManagement Company or Right toManage Company. Arising fromthefire risk assessment,a
fireactionplanshouldbeproducedfor that blockthatstatesthe necessary firesafety arrangements and includes any steps that should be taken to improve fire safety in the block. In additionyourlandlord or agentshould
communicatetoall residentswhatthe fire safety arrangements arefor theblock. In the simplest of blocks astandardfire safety notice affixedinthe common partscan sufficebut otherwiseabespoke documentmay be needed which is copied to all residents. If youare notsureofthe firesafetyplan
foryourblock contactyourlandlord, resident management company or agent.
FurtherinFormation Thecurrent national guidance on firesafety titled ‘Fire Safety in Purpose-Built Blocks of Flats’ is free to download fromthepublications page of ARMA’s website
atwww.arma.org.uk/ public/h/downloadable_publications●
AssociationofResidentialManagingAgents Limited (ARMA) 178BatterseaParkRoad,LondonSW114ND Tel 02079782607 Fax 02074986153 Email
info@arma.org.uk Websitewww.arma.org.uk
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