Property inspections: Fire safety

• We follow all relevant Government guidelines relating to fire safety and Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs), including the Fire Safety Act 2021, which states that FRAs include external walls of all residential buildings, irrespective of height.

• We deliver an ongoing rolling programme of regular FRAs on the homes we manage and make sure that any actions raised are resolved by the given deadline. These happen every two years unless advised otherwise in assessment, and annually for building over 11 metres.

• Fire doors help stop the spread of fire or smoke and we check them regularly in your home.
• We take action if we find items or belongings being stored in any communal areas or cupboards. If any items are flammable, we may remove them immediately.

Further details are set out in our Fire Safety Management Plan, please contact our Health and Safety Lead for a copy.

What you can do to keep yourself safe from fire

• If you have any concerns or need to raise fire safety repairs in your home please contact the Transform Repairs Team on 0800 389 5224 or email repairs@transformhousing.org.uk. Please call us if the matter is urgent and, in an emergency, you should always call the emergency services on 999.
• Safety is everyone’s responsibility, and you have a crucial part to play. It’s important that you and the people you live with know what to do in the event of an emergency.
• Please read the advice and recommendations on these web pages carefully so you know how to reduce the risk of fire in and around your home.

Measures to prevent fire

Fire doors

• Fire doors are critical in preventing fires and saving lives but they only work if they are used properly and are kept firmly closed. To ensure they work, do not wedge fire doors open or tamper with any parts of the doors.
• It is very important that nothing is added, modified or fitted to a fire door, such as coat hooks, shelves or posters. Also fire doors should not be changed in any way – for example holes must not be drilled or cut into them to install pet flaps or letterboxes.
• The door closers on fire doors should not be removed – this is very dangerous.
• If you spot a fire door that is damaged or not closing correctly, please contact the Maintenance team as soon as possible:
  By telephone: Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm: 0800 389 5224
  Via email: repairs@transformhousing.org.uk

Smoking and ashtrays

• Smoking is a leading cause of fire fatalities in the UK. If you smoke, please make sure cigarettes are put out and disposed of properly.
• Many fires in homes are linked to cigarettes so we do not allow smoking in the common areas of shared houses or flats.
• If you do smoke indoors, avoid smoking in bed or in armchairs and sofas if you are tired as you may fall asleep and the lit cigarette could cause a fire.
• Don’t balance lit cigarettes on the edge of an ashtray or anything else.
• Run water on your ashtray before you empty it and please do not empty ashtrays into bins unless you are absolutely certain that the cigarette ends are not lit. Avoid emptying ashtrays into bins last thing at night.
• It is safer to smoke outside but never smoke or throw cigarettes off balconies.
• If you use a vape, always use the charger that came with it. Check the battery for damage, buy from a reputable seller and do not leave it charging for extended periods.

Candles and naked flames

• Some fires are started by candles, incense and oil burners. Candles are not allowed in shared houses, including bedrooms.
• We also strongly advise you not to use candles if you live in a self-contained flat.
• If you do use candles in your home, place these items on flat, stable, heat resistant surfaces.
• Make sure all candles are completely put out before you go to bed or if you go out.
• Place them away from curtains, furniture and clothes and out of any draughts. Make sure there’s more than one metre between these items and any surface above them.
• Keep them well out of reach of children and pets.
• Where possible purchase LED, battery-operated candles as these will reduce the risk of fire starting.

Ovens and saucepans

• Around 60% of fires in the home begin in the kitchen and ovens and saucepans left unattended are a common cause. Please never leave a saucepan on the heat, the oven on or any cooking unattended if you are called away. When you’ve finished, double-check that everything is off and that any hot surfaces are clear.
• Be careful of wearing loose clothing when you cook. Over time, grease can build up in the oven, hob and extractor – keeping them clean will reduce the risk of fire.

Chip pans and deep fat fryers

The fat in chip pans can very easily ignite and cause a fire so please avoid using deep fat fryers and think about making oven chips instead.

Electrical cables

• Please remember that electrical cables should not be left anywhere near the top of a cooker or anywhere else where they are near to heat.
• If you can see that an electrical cable is frayed or faulty, do not use the device.
• Also, be aware that overloaded plug sockets are fire risks so please avoid plugging in multiple appliances using adaptors.

Toasters

If you have a toaster, keep it away from flammable materials (e.g. curtains or tea towels) and clean it out regularly.

Electric bikes, scooters and mobility scooters

• You may have seen news stories, such as this one, which show the batteries for some electric bikes and scooters are a major fire risk. This man’s whole family were killed by an exploding e-bike battery. For this reason, charging these batteries in Transform properties is not allowed.
• There are an increasing amount of fires caused by e-scooters and e-bikes as a result of the batteries overheating. The majority of these fires have happened in homes and they are often caused when charging batteries but sometimes fires from e-bikes and e-scooters can occur at other times, for example when the batteries are hot and they are still being used.
• If these bikes or scooters are in common areas, such as hallways, living rooms or kitchens, they can be tripped over as well as being fire hazards so, if possible, please avoid storing them in these areas.
• Please do not attempt to modify or tamper with the battery and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when charging them. To reduce the risk of batteries overheating, allow them to cool down before attempting to re-charge.
• Batteries should also always be charged on hard flat surfaces where heat can dissipate. Batteries can also pose a risk if they have been damaged, so try to ensure they are not getting knocked around while in use or while being carried.
• You should never leave the battery charging unattended or charge it while you are asleep. You should unplug your charger once it’s finished charging and always use the correct charger for your batteries and buy any replacements from a reputable seller.
• For up to date guidance and information about e-bikes/scooters, please see the advice from the London Fire Brigade.
• In 2021 Transport for London (TfL) banned e-scooters from London’s transport network. This was due to a number of fires on the network involving these vehicles. This means you’re unable to take your electric personal vehicles on any TfL service. You can read TfL’s full guidance on e-scooters on their site.
• Not all personal electric vehicles, such as e-scooters and e-unicycles are road legal in the UK. This means you could be fined by the police for using them on the road in the UK. Always check to see if you can use your vehicle on public roads.
• For safety reasons we also need to assess and approve any mobility scooters that would be stored in your home or on Transform property. Please contact your key worker to enquire about this.

Gas cylinder devices

Gas cylinder devices, including portable gas heaters, gas-fuelled barbecues and blow torches, pose the risk of fire or explosions. We don’t allow gas cylinder devices to be used or stored anywhere on our estates, including on balconies, in roof-top gardens, communal gardens and indoor communal areas. Contact your local council to arrange disposal.

Festive fire safety

Festive decorations really brighten up our homes at any time of year. But it’s also important to make sure they’re safe. Here are our top festive fire safety tips:

If you opt for a live tree, remember they can dry out and become a fire hazard, so:

• Keep it well-watered.
• Place it away from heat sources.
• Dispose of it after the festive period (check your council website to find out about tree collection dates).
• Turn all the lights off before you go to bed and whenever you go out.
• Be careful not to overload sockets with lots of plugs from multiple strings of lights.
• Don’t let the bulbs touch anything that can easily burn.
• Make sure you keep any decorations well away from heaters, lights, candles and fireplaces.

Barbecues (BBQs)

• BBQs on balconies are a major fire risk and are not allowed.
• Please be aware that BBQs can stay hot for hours, so be really careful moving them. They also give off carbon monoxide fumes for several hours after they go out, so don’t bring them indoors with you.

Communal areas

• It’s very important that communal areas such as corridors, walkways and fire doors are kept clear of obstructions like rubbish, prams, bikes, furniture or clothes. This is so everyone can safely escape the building if they need to and firefighters can safely enter and exit the building when fighting a fire.
• We ask you not to leave any items outside your home including door mats, shoes, plant pots, bikes and pushchairs as all of these items pose a potential risk in the event of a fire.

Communal service cupboards

• There are a number of cupboards in shared home s to access gas, water or electrical services. These are not storage cupboards and should be kept locked; you must not use them to store items as it increases the risk of fire starting and spreading.
• If you notice a cupboard that has a damaged or open door, or is full of items, please contact us as soon as possible.

If you find rubbish or anything blocking communal areas or fire escapes, please contact us.

Alarms and detectors

• There are two types of detectors that you can find in your home: smoke detection and heat detection (heat detectors are usually found in your kitchen).There should be one detector on every level of your home.
• Test your smoke alarm regularly to make sure it works – we recommend checking it once a week.
• If you don’t have a smoke alarm, please contact us to arrange for one to be fitted.
• If your detector starts beeping this means the battery is low. Please don’t remove the battery until you are ready to replace it with a new one immediately and never cover the detector to silence the beeping.

What to do if you discover a fire or hear a fire alarm

• If you discover a fire, raise the alarm by setting off the nearest manual fire call point or, if there is no alarm, shout a warning to others.
• Call the fire brigade on 999 – give your telephone number and ask for FIRE. Give your address slowly and clearly. Do not hang up until your details have been repeated.
• Do not use water or a water fire extinguisher on an electrical fire – such as a toaster – or a fire which involves burning liquids (like a frying pan). Water can make the fire much bigger and more dangerous.
• Evacuate if you are able to and it is safe to do so – do not stop to collect your personal belongings, walk fast but do not run. Do not go back into the building unless you have been told it’s safe to do so by the Fire Brigade or the scheme manager.

Escape routes

• It’s important that the Fire Brigade can reach you easily if there’s a fire and that you can get out of your home quickly and easily in an emergency.
• Take some time to plan and practice an escape route for you (and your family). Usually the best escape route is the way into your home.
• Wherever possible plan a second route in case your first one is blocked.
• If there are older people or young children make a plan that includes helping them out safely and keep any keys you need in the same place so you can find them quickly.
• Every night check your escape route is clear.
• If you live in a home with a balcony, you should keep it clear. If your balcony is cluttered it can contribute to the spread of fire and prevent the fire services from doing their jobs properly. Please do not smoke on your balcony.
• For our clients in homes in multiple occupation we provide fire evacuation procedures when you move in and remind you about these annually. They will also be available on the notice board in your communal area.
• Please remember to be aware of the evacuation strategy for your building and whether the advice is to stay put or evacuate in the event of a fire. If you are unsure what this is, please contact your local office.