Fire safety in halls

Fire safety

Listen to some simple fire safety guidelines to make sure we all stay safe in halls.

All University halls treat the health, safety and security of students, staff and visitors with the upmost importance. Our halls are managed by Derbyshire Student Residences Limited, known as Student Living.

We always install, maintain and operate suitable safety systems in our buildings to meet and often exceed the minimum legal requirements. Such measures taken include:

• Regular review and updating of Fire Risk Assessments for every site by trained and experienced specialist contractors
• Provision of relevant fire safety equipment within our buildings such as fire extinguishers and fire blankets
• Annual servicing of all gas appliances and PAT testing of our electrical items
• PAT testing service for students 
• Regular emergency evacuation drills when buildings are occupied
• Regular fire alarm and emergency lighting testing and maintenance
• Fire safety training provided for all staff on site
• Safety induction briefings at move-in for all occupants on how to act in emergency situations

The fire alarm

If you hear the fire alarm, leave the building immediately and don't go back in until a member of staff tells you it's safe. We test our fire alarms every week. There's a notice in your halls that tells you the day we test them. You don't have to evacuate the building during testing unless the alarm sounds for more than ten seconds. 

Don't worry if you lock yourself out during a fire alarm, the staff will sort you out with a key to get back in.

Fire safety regulations

• Make sure you evacuate the building straight away if you hear the fire alarm (unless it's the test day!)
• Don't tamper with fire safety equipment - you might need it one day!
• Be careful not to set the fire alarm off by accident. Steam or aerosol spray have been known to set them off!
• No smoking anywhere inside the halls building
• Do not leave cooking unattended
• Stay with items when they are charging
• Make sure all your appliances have the CE (Conformité Européenee) safety mark. Find out how to identify the safety mark

If you don't follow our fire safety regulations, you'll be fined. Fines start at £25 and double for each offence afterwards. We may also take further disciplinary action against you and you may have to leave your halls.