Student Accommodation Fire Safety: Key Practices & Regulations
66% of the more than 160 fires attended by Fire and Rescue Services at student halls of residence in one year in the UK were started by cooking appliances. With statistics like this, it’s clear that fire safety solutions in universities and compliance with fire safety regulations are crucially important for protecting the lives of students, staff, and visitors, as well as valuable assets.
Implementing effective fire safety measures in universities involves more than alarms and evacuation plans. A robust approach combines both active fire protection—such as sprinklers, detection systems and emergency lighting—and passive fire measures, like fire-resistant materials, student accommodation fire doors, and proper compartmentation. Together, they form the foundation of a reliable fire strategy for universities.
In this article, we explore key practices for fire safety in university environments, including the use of fire-resistant building materials, the importance of regular inspections and maintenance, and additional strategies to enhance fire safety in university settings.
Fire-Resistant Building Materials
To be able to hinder the spread of flames to allow time for occupants to escape and for Fire and Rescue to arrive and tackle the blaze, fire-resistant materials should form an integral part of university student accommodation fire safety measures. As a core component of fire strategy in universities, fire-resistant materials should be standard in all construction and refurbishment projects across campus environments.
These materials are a class of substances designed to withstand heat and resist combustion. They’re largely used for compartmentation, which sees the creation of compartments designed to contain or minimise the spread of fire within the building.
Key Materials to Consider
Various fire-resistant materials are used for university accommodation fire safety. Consider the following key materials used for fire-resistant painting and decoration in student halls of residence:
- Fire walls: These barriers are constructed using non-combustible materials. They’re usually installed into building structures, where they support compartmentation and prevent the spread of fire from area to area, an important part of meeting fire regulations for student accommodation.
- Intumescent coatings: These coatings are an indispensable part of university fire safety measures. When exposed to heat, these fire-resistant coatings form an insulative, stable carbonaceous char that prevents the materials to which they’re applied from reaching their flammable temperature, maintaining their structural loadbearing capacity.
- Fire-retardant paint: Tested against British safety standards BS 476, these paints release a flame-dampening gas when they are heated. This prevents fire from spreading over surfaces coated with these paints.
- Fire and smoke doors: A legal requirement for university accommodation fire safety, university fire doors must be installed in bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens. Fire doors are engineered components that may either be solid or have a core of wood composite material or flax board and are fitted with intumescent seals that seal the door when exposed to heat. These doors slow the spread of fire, smoke, and gas, and limit the amount of oxygen available to the fire.
- Fire and smoke dampers: Dampers allow the flow of air where walls and other fire rated structured are penetrated. They close automatically when fire is detected.
Application in University Accommodations
The various applications of these materials make them effective fire safety solutions in university accommodations. Strategically place fire walls between rooms, especially in common areas and dormitories, to compartmentalise these spaces and protect escape routes such as stairwells.
Use intumescent paints and coatings on structural elements such as beams and columns, and on other elements such as handrails, ensuring that you comply with health, safety, and building standards (for example, regarding the choice of colour) in doing so. Use these and fire-retardant paints on walls, doors, and ceilings in common rooms, dormitories, and high-traffic areas in the shared or rented university halls of residence. These paints are available in various colours, making them viable choices when it comes to décor and design.
The Importance of Regular Inspections and Maintenance
Whether due to manufacturer faults, human error, tampering, or other reasons, fire safety solutions in universities occasionally fail. This makes regular fire safety inspections in all student accommodations a necessity.
Building owners, managers, and occupants gain peace of mind knowing that a competent person completed a recent inspection of all university fire safety measures and will have highlighted anything in need of remediation. Conduct regular inspections of your fire prevention and safety measures every six months, enabling you to identify and address potential hazards before they become serious risks.
Implementing Comprehensive Fire Safety Solutions
When implementing a comprehensive fire strategy for universities, take your institution’s unique needs, as well as potential integration with modern technologies into account when implementing comprehensive fire safety measures:
- Customised fire safety plans: Every university is a unique ecosystem with different layouts, circumstances, affecting factors, and needs. Develop and implement fire safety plans and measures that meet your university’s needs.
- Integration with modern technologies: Fire safety solutions in universities are effective when they incorporate preventative, educational, active, and passive measures and systems. Enhance your fire safety measures’ effectiveness by integrating them with modern technologies such as innovative fire detection systems and smart alarms. These measures can ensure that building occupants are alerted, and they can automate the activation of various fire safety measures, such as fire curtains or dampers.
- Case studies: Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret University implemented an extensive fire safety plan that included active and passive fire protection and control systems. The university’s fire safety measures also include across-the-board risk assessments and advanced control systems, drawing from resilience strategies and proactively tackling fire hazards. This has led to increased fire safety for students and staff, minimising the chance of fires and, in the event that any occur, ensuring early detection and response.
Making Fire Safety In University Accommodation a Priority
Ensuring fire safety in university accommodations is essential for protecting the lives of students and staff, as well as safeguarding property. Use fire-resistant materials, conduct regular inspections and maintenance, and implement comprehensive fire safety solutions to create safer living environments. Prioritise fire safety in your university accommodation. Contact Bell to learn more about our specialised painting and decorating services tailored to enhance your university accommodation fire safety.
FAQs
What are the fire regulations for student accommodation providers?
Providers must comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which applies to all student accommodation fire safety settings. This includes ensuring that buildings meet structural safety standards, have functioning alarms, and maintain clear evacuation procedures. Specific fire regulations in student accommodation require routine inspections and documentation of risk assessments.
How is fire safety in shared or rented accommodation enforced for students?
In shared or rented settings, such as HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation), fire safety in shared or rented accommodation is managed under both housing and fire legislation. Landlords must provide working smoke alarms, maintain student accommodation fire doors, and ensure that escape routes are free from obstruction and fire-resistant.
Why is a fire strategy important for universities and colleges?
A clear fire strategy for universities and fire strategy for colleges ensures coordinated prevention, detection, and evacuation procedures tailored to each campus or building type. These strategies consider occupancy patterns, building layouts, and student behaviours, and play a vital role in reducing fire risk across university fire doors, escape routes, and communal areas.
What should be included in a fire safety induction for students?
A fire safety induction in university accommodation should include fire exit locations, alarm testing schedules, prohibited items (e.g., candles), and cooking safety guidelines. Awareness of the fire alarm in student accommodation is essential so residents know what to do when it sounds and avoid false activations.
How often should fire doors be checked in student accommodation?
Student accommodation fire doors and university fire doors should be checked regularly, ideally every 6 months, for damage, correct closing mechanisms, and intact seals. Damaged or non-compliant doors can compromise compartmentation and delay evacuation times.
What role does passive fire protection play in university buildings?
Passive fire protection, like fire doors, fire-resistant ceilings, and wall systems, is key to any fire strategy in universities. These measures help slow the spread of fire, giving students and staff more time to evacuate safely while protecting property and infrastructure.
