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Fire safety

Why is fire safety important?

Fires in the home can be devastating and to properties and people’s live. Keeping customers safe is our top priority and we are committed to minimising the risks associated with fire in our properties.

Reporting a concern

If you are concerned about fire safety in your home or building, please contact us
Contact us

Responsibilities

Our responsibilities

When it comes to fire, making sure you’re safe is our top priority. We have procedures in place to help prevent fires and reduce the impact if a fire does break out.
We also have a dedicated Fire Safety Officer who is responsible for all fire related issues within Derby Homes properties.

We’re responsible for:

Fire risk assessments in communal areas of all our blocks of flats
Helping prepare fire emergency plans
Fire and building regulations for new build properties
Practical and technical fire training for our staff
Working in partnership with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS)
Co-ordinating with responsible persons and rectifying any fire safety issues
Ensuring external walls and cladding are safe and fire resistant
Ensuring tenants have access to their buildings fire safety procedures
Installing and maintaining domestic/communal fire detection systems
Maintaining fire doors.

We work in partnership with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) to provide the best service for our tenants and leaseholders.

As a partnership we:

We carry out home ‘safe and well’ checks with DFRS - each tenant should receive a home ‘safe and well’ check within three months of moving in.
We install portable misting systems in properties where we identify vulnerable people through the ‘safe and well’ checks.
All new build properties that are built by us, are fitted with a sprinkler system.
We are fitting sprinklers in some of our older properties that have vulnerable tenants.

Please contact us if you require any help or advice.

Tenant responsibilities

As your landlord, we’re responsible for fire safety in your property. You are responsible for:

Checking your flat front door is working correctly
Reporting any repair or safety issues to us
Making sure you are aware of your buildings fire safety procedures

Leaseholders who sub-let their flats

Leaseholders who sub-let their flats, have the same fire safety responsibilities as landlords. you are responsible for:

Co-ordinating with Derby Homes in order to rectify fire safety issues
Rectifying any fire safety issues within your property
Ensuring tenants have access to their buildings fire safety procedures
Maintaining the front door and ensuring it provides 30 minutes of fire resistance
Ensuring at least one smoke alarm is equipped on each storey of their homes where there is a room used as living accommodation. This has been a legal requirement in the private rented sector since 2015.
Ensuring a carbon monoxide alarm is equipped in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers).
Ensuring smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are repaired or replaced once informed and found that they are faulty.

Leaseholders who live in their flat

It’s highly recommended for you and your neighbour’s safety, that you follow the same responsibilities as leaseholders who sub-let their flats. It is your legal responsibility to:

Maintain your front door and ensuring it provides 30 minutes of fire resistance
Get permission from us before any alterations to the internal layout of the flat, such as removing walls or doors.

Fire safety in flats

What to do when there is a fire will depend on the category of property and building you live in.

Most of our flats operate a ‘stay put’ policy, this means:

If there is a fire and you are not in an area directly affected by it, you should stay inside your flat with doors and windows shut.
You must leave the building if your flat becomes affected by smoke or fire or if requested to by the fire service.
Each flat is designed to hold back a fire for up to one hour, where it will have been dealt with by the fire service or burned out.

If your building does not operate a stay put policy:

When the alarm sounds, you must leave the building immediately and call 999.

Reporting a fire

If there is a fire in your flat:

Leave the room where the fire is and close the door (if safe to do so)
Tell everyone in your flat to leave the flat
Once everyone is out of the flat, fully close the main entrance door
Do not stay behind to fight the fire
If your building has a fire alarm, use the red fire call point (usually on the wall and say FIRE: BREAK GLASS or PRESS HERE)
Leave the building by the nearest exit
Go the fire assembly point for your building (this is on the fire action plan in the communal areas of your building)
Call the fire service on 999 and report the fire

If you are in your flat and see a fire in another area or hear a fire alarm:

Stay in your flat
Shut your doors and windows
Call the fire service on 999 and report the fire
Leave your flat if it becomes affected by smoke or fire, or if the fire service ask you to leave
Make your way to the fire assembly point (this is on the fire action plan in the communal areas of your building)
Your flat is a self-contained fire-resistant unit. It will protect you from a fire in another part of the building. However, if you are in any doubt or feel unsafe, you should leave your flat

If you are in a communal area and you see or hear a fire in another part of the building:

Leave the building by the nearest exit
Call the fire service on 999 and report the fire
Make your way to the assembly point (this is on the fire action plan in the communal areas of your building)
Do not return to your flat until the fire service say it is safe to do so

Fire risk assessments

A fire risk assessment is a means of identifying potential fire hazards and rating the likelihood and possible severity of the fire and enables us to put adequate controls in place to minimise the risks.

Fire risk assessments are reviewed every three years for communal areas in blocks of flats. They will also be reviewed:

After any fire related incident at the premises
After any modifications or alterations or change of use to the building
Any near misses

Communal areas of flats also have maintenance inspection twice a year.

If you have any concerns about fire safety , or you would like to request a copy of your building's fire risk assessment in your fire safety by contacting us.

Fire safety in sheltered housing

Kestrel House, Rebecca House and Whitecross House are supported living flats within a complex with corridors and communal facilities. In addition to the arrangements for general use flats Derby Homes provide smoke/heat detection linked to an emergency call system monitored by a 24-hour emergency call centre.

If fire breaks out in your home:

Leave the room where the fire is straight away and if safe to do so close the door.
Inform everyone in your home and get them to leave. Close the door to your flat behind you.
Do not stay behind to put the fire out
Operate the red manual call point
Call the fire service 999
Wait outside the building for the fire service to arrive

If you see or hear of a fire in another part of the building:

This building has a communal fire alarm, if you are in the communal areas when the fire alarm sounds then make your way outside and await the fire service.
If you see a fire, activate the fire alarm by operating the red manual call point
Call the Fire Service 999 if you are in the communal areas then leave the building.
The communal fire alarm is connected to a remote call centre and they will automatically call the fire service once the smoke detector has operated.
The building is designed to contain a fire where it starts. This means that usually it will be safe for you to remain in your flat if the fire is elsewhere in the building.
You must leave your flat immediately if smoke or heat affects your home, or if you are told to do so by the fire service.
If you are in any doubt get out.

To call the Fire Service:

The building is connected to a remote call centre who will contact the fire service if the fire alarm in the communal areas or in the flat.
You should still dial 999.
When the operator answers ask for the fire service.
Give the address of the fire and any further information requested by the fire service.
Do not end the call until the fire service has repeated the address correctly.

Fire risk assessments

Fire risk assessments are reviewed every year for sheltered housing. They will also be reviewed:

After any fire related incident at the premises
After any modifications or alterations or change of use to the building
Any near misses

Communal areas of flats also have maintenance inspection twice a year.

If you have any concerns about fire safety , or you would like to request a copy of your building's fire risk assessment in your fire safety by contacting us.

Fire safety at Rivermead House

There is a common misconception that those living in high-rise blocks of flats are at greater risk from fire, however, statistically it is no more dangerous than a fire in a house.
Rivermead House is Derby’s only high-rise block of flats. We have robust safety measures in place to help prevent fires and stop fire from spreading if one breaks out. Rivermead House operates a ‘stay put’ policy.

How to report a fire

If there is a fire in your flat

Leave the room where the fire is straight away and if safe to do so close the door.
Inform everyone in your home and get them to leave. Close the door to your flat behind you.
Do not stay behind to put the fire out
Operate the red manual call point (This will operate an audible alarm in the laundry, storeroom and main entrance but not in the rest of the building) however it will alert the Fire Service.
Call the fire service 999
Wait outside the building for the Fire Service to arrive.

If you are in your flat and see a fire in another area or hear a fire alarm

This building has a communal fire alarm, if you are in the communal areas when the fire alarm sounds then make your way outside and await the fire service.
If you see a fire, activate the fire alarm by operating the red manual call point (This will only operate an audible alarm in the laundry, storeroom and main entrance but not in the rest of the building) however it will alert the fire service.
Call the fire service 999 if you are in the communal areas then leave the building.
The communal fire alarm is connected to a remote call centre and they will automatically call the fire service once the smoke detector has operated.
The building is designed to contain a fire where it starts. This means that usually it will be safe for you to remain in your flat if the fire is elsewhere in the building.
You must leave your flat immediately if smoke or heat affects your home, or if you are told to do so by the Fire Service.
If you are in any doubt get out.

Fire risk assessments

Fire risk assessments are reviewed every year for Rivermead House. They will also be reviewed:

After any fire related incident at the premises
After any modifications or alterations or change of use to the building
Any near misses

Communal areas of flats also have maintenance inspection twice a year.

If you have any concerns about fire safety, or you would like to request a copy of your building's fire risk assessment , please contact us.

Fire safety at Parkland View

This building is fully sprinklered throughout therefor any fire should be controlled and possibly extinguished by the operation of the system.

If fire breaks out in your home:

Leave the room where the fire is straight away, and if safe to do so close the door.
Inform everyone in your home and get them to leave. Close the door to your flat behind you.
Do not stay behind to put the fire out.
Activate a red manual call button (adjacent to each exit)
Call the Fire Service on 999
Wait in the corridor if it safe to do so for the care staff to arrive and tell them what has happened so they can inform the fire service on arrival.

If you see or hear of a fire in another part of the building:

This building has a communal fire alarm, if you are in the communal areas when the fire alarm sounds then make your way outside and await further instructions from the care staff or the Fire Service.
If you see a fire, activate the fire alarm by operating the red manual call point
Call the Fire Service on 999 if you are in the communal areas then leave the building.
The communal fire alarm is connected to a remote call centre and they will automatically call the fire service once the smoke or heat detector has operated.
The building is designed to contain a fire where it starts. This means that usually it will be safe for you to remain in your flat if the fire is elsewhere in the building.
You must leave your flat immediately if smoke or heat affects your home, or if you are told to do so by care staff or the fire service.
If you are in any doubt get out.

To call the Fire Service:

The building is connected to a remote call centre who will contact the fire service if the fire alarm in the communal areas or in the flat.
You should still dial 999
When the operator answers ask for the Fire Service.
Give the address of the fire and any further information requested by the fire service.
Do not end the call until the Fire Service has repeated the address correctly.

Fire risk assessment

Fire risk assessments are reviewed every year for Parkland View. They will also be reviewed:

After any fire related incident at the premises
After any modifications or alterations or change of use to the building
Any near misses

Communal areas of flats also have maintenance inspection twice a year.

If you have any concerns about fire safety , or you would like to request a copy of your building's fire risk assessment, please contact us.

Fire detection systems

Fire detection systems or fire alarms are designed to automatically detect smoke or heat and alert the occupants of a building. They are vital for protecting lives and property by providing early warnings of a fire.

Tenants

We’re responsible for installing and maintaining smoke or heat detectors in your property. This includes carrying out annual fire detection safety checks.
If you have gas in your property, we’ll carry out the safety check at the same time as your annual Gas Safety check.
If you do not have gas in your property, our contractor will write and let you know when they are in the area. If you’re out when our contractors call, they’ll leave a calling card. Just ring the number on the card to re-arrange another appointment.
You must allow our staff or contractors into your home to carry out these safety checks.
If you need a specific appointment time, please phone our contractors SCCI Alphatrack on 01279 630567. You can make appointments Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm.

Leaseholders

If you are a leaseholder who sub-lets their property, you are classed as a landlord so must ensure that you meet the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 which came into force on 1 October 2022.

From that date, all relevant landlords must:

Ensure at least one smoke alarm is equipped on each storey of their homes where there is a room used as living accommodation. This has been a legal requirement in the private rented sector since 2015.
Ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is equipped in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance (excluding gas cookers).
Ensure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are repaired or replaced once informed and found that they are faulty.

Fire doors

What are fire doors and how do they work?

Fire doors are doors that are specifically designed to resist the spread of fire and smoke, providing crucial time for occupants to evacuate and for emergency services to respond. They are an important safety feature that are found in flat entrance doors, stairwells, corridors, and near areas with potential fire risks like bin storage or electrical equipment.

They are made from fire-resistant materials like timber, steel, or composite materials, and are designed with features like intumescent seals that expand when heated to block gaps.

Your flat entrance door will resist fire and smoke for a minimum of 30 minutes. The door and its fittings all meet the current fire safety regulations.

Our responsibilities

If you are a tenant living in a flat, we are responsible for ensuring your fire doors meet these requirements. We check the flat entrance fire doors every 12 months, and check the fire doors in communal areas every three months. It is a legal requirement that you to allow access for these checks to be made.

Tenant responsibilities

If you notice any problem with the fire doors in your property, you should report this to us as soon as possible.

You should check that your door:

closes fully into its frame from any open position
has at least three hinges and the screws are intact
does not have any gaps around the edges of the door and frame
does not have any signs of damage
is kept shut when not in use

You should never tamper with, or remove the self-closing device.

Leaseholder responsibilities

If you are a leaseholder, you must carry out the fire door checks listed above. You are responsible for any repair or replacements to the doors.

What can you do to stay safe?

Fires in your home can be devastating. Make sure you and you loved ones are prepared for an emergency by following this guidance:

Test your smoke alarms - ideally once a week
Keep it clear - do not leave litter, bikes, pushchairs or other items in hallways or other potential escape routes
Make a plan - Plan with your family how you would get out if there was a fire in your home. If you are in a house or first floor flat, then you should have an escape window on the first floor. Make sure you can open it and the area below is kept clear.
Keep a torch handy in case of power cuts - check it works on a regular basis.
Leave space when parking – Make sure an emergency vehicle can get through and you are not parked over a fire hydrant.
Mobility scooters and e-bikes/e-scooters - don’t charge these devices within communal areas or in escape routes.

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan

A personal emergency evacuation plan or PEEP is an emergency plan for anyone who needs assistance when evacuating a building in an emergency. It's usually a written document that sets out what the individual's needs are, what support they need and what the safest way to evacuate them during an emergency.

PEEPs can be temporary, or long term and are always developed and agreed by us and the tenant.

If you feel you should have a PEEP in place, or want to discuss changes to our current PEEP, please contact us.