Fire safety in flats

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

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.

You can check your building’s policy in your fire safety information pack, or by contacting us.

Do not leave litter, bikes, pushchairs or other items in the common areas of flats.

If you live in a block of flats and decide to replace your front door then you must replace the whole door set with a door set that provides 30 minutes fire resistance and fitted with cold smoke seals and a self-closing device. This is to protect the means of escape from the building.

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:

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.

Other safety Measures

All flats with Derby Homes tenants in have smoke detection systems installed
Emergency lighting is installed throughout the communal areas and tested monthly
All communal doors are fire doors, fitted to BM Trada standards and are inspected every three months
A stay put policy is in place if a fire breaks out
Communal areas have fire alarms that are linked to an alarm receiving centre (Care-Link) and are tested weekly
All flats with Derby Homes tenants have fire doors that provide 30 minutes of fire resistance
Leaseholder flats are legally required to have fire doors that provide 30 minutes of fire resistance
There is a 'dry rising main' in the north staircase for use by the fire service (tested annually)
The building has two fireman’s lifts, serving alternate floors – during a fire, these will be out of service until the fire service arrive
Fire risk assessments are reviewed every year
Each flat is a one-hour fire resisting box
Rivermead has two protected staircases, one north and one south of the building
The refuse chutes are fire rated and have 'sprig loaded' fire shutters fitted at the base of the chute
a sterile area policy is enforced to ensure that the communal areas and escape routes are kept clear of obstructions or items that may cause a fire to spread

How to report 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