Fire safety – keeping you and your neighbours safe

Your safety and wellbeing are our top priorities and as part of this we’re committed to ensuring the highest level of safety when it comes to managing fire risks.

To help you stay safe in your home, we want to share some key fire safety information. Below you'll find a video which highlights some key things to remember to help keep you and your neighbour’s safe. And in the article below you can find more detail on these points.

If you have any questions about the fire safety policy or procedure at your building, or if you think you may need help to evacuate your home in the event of a fire, please get in touch with us by emailing firesafety@vividhomes.co.uk or by calling 0800 652 0898.

Don’t store items in your loft space

You must not store personal belongings or items within your loft space, as flammable items can assist the spread of fire and increase the risk of a fire causing large scale damage to your home.

Storing items on top of loft insulation will also have a detrimental effect on the performance of the insulation. This can mean effect the thermal efficiency of the insulation and potentially lead to higher bills to heat your home.

Let us know first if you are planning to make any improvement or alterations to your home

If you’re intending to carry out any type of works to your property you must seek authorisation from us first - this is very important.

We need to agree what you can do and check on who is going to carry out the work to ensure they are qualified to do so. We also need to ensure that the work you intend to carry out will not breach any fire safety regulations or compromise the safety of your home and the building. We also need to make sure that any person carrying out these works is aware of the fire safety requirements and is qualified and/or certified.

Be wary of flammable items and substances

If you have a balcony, do not use it to store items that can catch fire, such as BBQs. Avoid using bamboo or similar type material screens on your balcony, these can easily catch fire and assist the fire to spread. It is also important to never use or store flammable substances in your home or in communal areas. This includes petrol, paraffin, calor gas cylinders or dangerous chemicals.

Stay alert when using appliances in the kitchen

Never leave your cooking unattended and remember to take any pans off the heat, or turn off the heat, if you are called away from the kitchen, cooker, or hob.

If a pan catches fire - never try and remove it. Only turn the heat off if it is safe to do so. If it is not safe to do so, leave the room and follow the fire evacuation policy for your building then call the Fire Service.

Take care with electrics.

Never overload your electrical supply and try not to use multiple socket extension leads in your home – and always switch off electrical appliances and where possible. Remove plugs when you are not using them - especially before you go to bed.

Electric scooters have increased in popularity over the past couple of years and it is extremely important to take great care when charging them. If you have to keep one in your home, remove the battery when charging and don’t leave it unattended. Only use the charger supplied by the manufacturer - damaged chargers or cables should not be used and know your charging times, avoiding charging for longer than necessary. More safety guidance on electric scooters can be found here.

If you spot something that doesn’t seem right or if a fault occurs, contact your local fire service and follow the fire evacuation policy for your building.

Keep fire safety measures in place at your building

Do not remove any fire safety signage in your building or the self-closer from your front entrance door, fitted to the top of the door. Removing the closer could put the rest of the building at risk in the event of a fire, as this helps to prevent the spread of fire.

Never wedge or prop open communal doors, they must remain shut at all times to prevent the spread of fire and do not leave main entrance doors open or leave them on the latch. This may allow non-residents access into the building and may compromise yours and your neighbour’s security and safety.

Take care when using cigarettes

Make sure you put cigarettes completely out. It is best to wet them to be sure and never smoke in bed.

Smoking is a major cause of fire, and we operate a strict ‘no Smoking’ policy within our blocks to maintain your safety.

Keep communal areas clear

Do not leave any items that could catch fire or get in someone’s way in corridors or communal areas, such as bikes or prams, as this may impact someone’s ability to evacuate safely. We have a zero-tolerance policy regarding these items and may remove them without notice if required.

Check your smoke alarm regularly

If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, contact your local authority who will assess your needs and make arrangements for a specialist alarm or equipment to be fitted. If you’re a shared owner or leaseholder, ensure that smoke alarms are fitted on each floor and make sure you have a heat detector installed in kitchens that aren’t separated from your main evacuation or access route.  

If you live in a block, make sure you know the evacuation policy

To ensure your safety, your policy may advise you to evacuate the building or stay put in your flat. If you’re unsure contact us. 

If you or a family member need help evacuating in the event of a fire, let us know so we can assess your needs and create a personal evacuation plan if needed. Please email: PersonalEvacuationPlan@vividhomes.co.uk