Fire safety

Fire safety information is important to ensuring you understand not only what the council is doing to keep you and your home safe, but to help you understand your responsibilities and those checks that are recommended to all occupiers to undertake in their homes. 

Fire safety information is regularly included in Hometalk, the tenants' publication, and here we have compiled some key information for our residents.  

If you have any questions about this information or concerns about fire safety, we are here to help.  

For non-urgent matters you can contact us by email at housing.supporthub@nfdc.gov.uk 

For more urgent matters, or if you would prefer to discuss your concerns please contact the Housing Support hub Customer Service team on 02380 285222. They will be able to direct your call accordingly.  

How we help make homes safe

Council properties are independently inspected for fire safety. 

Independent fire safety assessors conduct annual risk reviews of our age restricted and temporary accommodation properties.  

General needs properties are conducted every 3 years with an annual internal review.  

The following fire safety maintenance is carried out in our all our blocks: 

• fire alarms tested and serviced every 6 months 
• emergency lighting checked monthly 
• Building Safety Officers also carry out additional regular checks of various fire safety control measures such as, emergency lighting, fire doors, and escape routes (in corridors and stairwells)

These checks are recorded.

Fire doors  

A fire door is a fire-resistant entrance to a flat that leads to shared or communal areas within a building.

Fire doors are installed to prevent a fire inside of a flat spreading to the communal areas and escape routes within the building.

Fire doors can also stop a fire in the communal area of the building spreading into individual flats. 

Fire doors contain specific features which if become damaged or disabled will affect their performance. 

These doors are provided to keep you, your family and other residents safe.  

You should always  

• keep Fire doors properly shut when not in use  
• never remove or tamper with self-closing devices   
• report faults or damage to fire doors immediately 

Keep corridors clear

Storing belongings or leaving rubbish in escape routes such as stairways, corridors, and lobbies:   

• creates a fire risk 
• can contribute to antisocial behaviour and theft   
• can result in injuries as they are a trip hazard - this would be made far worse in the event of a fire, where smoke affects visibility  
• significantly slows down the emergency services from reaching and dealing with fires 
• puts the lives of firefighters at much greater risk as it takes them longer to get in and out

Please visit our bulky and non-standard waste collection page.

Smoke detectors  

An average of 90 people die each year due to the battery in their alarm being flat or missing. 

To keep your smoke alarm in good working order  

• test it once a week, or once a month as minimum, by pressing the test button until the alarm sounds
• change the battery once year (unless it's a ten-year alarm) 

What to do in the event of a fire  

Fire evacuation procedures are displayed in all buildings and dependent on the type of building you inhabit this may have.  

A stay put policy, where only the affected flat will evacuate and all other residents remain in the building if safe to do so. 

1. If there is a fire in your flat, you should evacuate all family members. Do not stop to collect personal belongings. 
2. If there is no fire in your flat but you are concerned for your safety and chose to do so, evacuate. 
3. Close the front door on exit which will help prevent the fire spreading.  
4. Exit the building to a safe place outside  
5. Call the fire brigade on 999 
6. Inform the fire brigade on arrival of anyone not accounted for or who remains in your flat  
7. Do not re-enter the flat until told it is safe to do so 
8. Call NFDC helpline and alert them to the fire incident and if alternative accommodation is required  

A full evacuation policy - where all flat occupants will evacuate at the same time.  

1. If there is a fire in your flat or you are alerted by the building alarm, you should evacuate all family members. Do not stop to collect personal belongings. 
2. Close the front door on exit which will prevent the fire spreading.  
3. Exit the building to a safe place outside  
4. Activation of the alarm will automatically call the fire brigade  
5. Inform the fire brigade on arrival of anyone not accounted for or who remains in your flat  
6. Do not re-enter the flat until told it is safe to do so 
7. Call NFDC helpline and alert them to the fire incident and if alternative accommodation is required  

If you live in a house  

1. If there is a fire in your house, you should evacuate all family members. Do not stop to collect personal belongings. 
2. Close the front door on exit which will prevent the fire spreading.  
3. Exit the building to a safe place outside  
4. Call the fire brigade on 999 
5. Inform the fire brigade on arrival of anyone not accounted for or who remains in your flat  
6. Do not re-enter the house until told it is safe to do so 
7. Call NFDC helpline and alert them to the fire incident and if alternative accommodation is required  

If you live in an Extra Care property   

1. If there is a fire in your flat, you should evacuate all family members. Do not stop to collect personal belongings. 
2. Close the front door on exit which will prevent the fire spreading.  
3. Follow the instructions provided by carers and support staff  
4. Exit the building to a safe place outside  
5. Do not re-enter the building until told it is safe to do so by carers or the fire brigade 

Self-evacuation  

If you have concerns that you won't be able to leave the building safely in the event of a fire, contact the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service  you may be entitled to a Safe and Well visit. 

These are Home Fire Safety visits that are tailored to an individual's needs focusing on the most vulnerable people in our community. 

If you'd like to see if you qualify fill in the assessment form on the Hampshire Fire and Rescue website or speak to a housing officer who can refer you. 

If you are one of our tenants and have mobility issues that make it difficult to reach and test your smoke alarm, contact us and we'll arrange support. 

Electrical safety  

Don't be tempted to save money by buying cheaper electrical products online or from social media sites. They may not meet safety standards and can be a fire risk. 

Help make sure the electrical products in your home are safe by buying from reputable retailers and known brands. You can check for and sign up for product safety alerts and recalls.

Also, electricity costs the same no matter what time of day or night you use it - unless you have a time of use tariff. If possible don't run white goods and charge items while you sleep.  

You might not be saving money, but you will increase the risk of fire.