Fire Safety and Smoking

Fire Alarms

Disciplinary action

The University has a zero-tolerance policy on maliciously activating fire alarms or tampering with fire safety equipment (such as covering a smoke detector or discharging a fire extinguisher without reasonable cause). Such conduct puts lives in danger and is a criminal offence. Any student engaging in such behaviour will be referred for disciplinary action (with a fine of £100 per person as a minimum penalty), and a requirement to pay full costs and may be asked to leave their accommodation.

Additionally, if you set off the fire alarm through negligence - for example by burning your cooking or wedging the kitchen door open - this will result in disciplinary action (with a fine of £50 per person as a minimum penalty).

You can help If you become aware of any potential health and safety risks in your accommodation or in the case of an emergency please call the Security team immediately on 0114 222 4444.

Risks can include:

• Trip hazards - particularly on stairwells
• Fire doors that do not close properly
• Damaged or loose glazing
• Out of order door entry systems
• Faulty electrical appliances

Electrical appliances

Your electrical equipment should be compatible with the UK electricity supply and be fitted with a three-pin plug with an appropriate fuse.

To ensure your safety:

• Evacuate if you hear an alarm
• Never interfere with electrical equipment or installations (including smoke/heat detectors).
• Never use electrical equipment that is unsafe (e.g. cables with exposed wires, cracked casings, e-cigarette chargers).
• Do not bring in any additional furniture or soft furnishings into the flats: these may not be up to fire safety regulation standards and are therefore fire hazards.
• Do not use multi-way block adapters (cube type), trailing adapters and extension leads as these can overheat, are frequently trip hazards and also when plugged into one another are one of the main causes of electrical fires.
• Remember to switch off appliances such as irons and hair straighteners before you go out!
• Do not use vacuum cleaners to pick up wet spillages.

You can help:

If you become aware of any potential health and safety risks in your accommodation or in the case of an emergency please call the Security team immediately on 0114 222 4444.

Risks can include:

• Trip hazards - particularly on stairwells
• Fire doors that do not close properly
• Damaged or loose glazing
• Out of order door entry systems
• Faulty electrical appliances

Fire safety

Your welfare is our top priority and we ensure that all health and safety requirements are adhered to. We are also fully compliant with the Universities UK Code of Practice which, among other things, aims to ensure students live in a safe environment.

Stay safe when cooking

According to the fire service, the most common cause of domestic fires is unattended cooking. To ensure you don’t cause a fire in your kitchen:

• Read the instruction booklet carefully so that you know how to operate the hob and the cooker safely Never interfere with the smoke/heat detectors.
• Ensure grill pans and the inside of the oven are clean - any food or cooking fat stuck to them may catch fire when the oven is on.
• Stay in the kitchen and keep an eye on your food whilst you’re cooking to make sure that nothing burns
• Never wedge kitchen doors open. If your cooking burns and there’s smoke, open the windows and turn on the extractor fan.
• Do not open your kitchen door, since this will activate the smoke alarm in the corridor.
• Only use cooking appliances in your kitchen or pantry (including toasters and kettles)

Fire Hazards:

Candles and fairy lights may look pretty and incense may smell nice, but they are fire hazards and can cause serious damage. 

No open flames are allowed in your accommodation.

Smoking

If you smoke cigarettes indoors (including shisha pipes or e-cigarettes) you will face disciplinary action, with a £50 fine as a minimum penalty. All money collected from smoking fines will be donated to Sheffield’s Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity (Registered Charity no. 1039885). When smoking outside, please use the smoking bins provided and be considerate to your neighbours. You are required to stand at least 2 metres away from entrances, exits or open windows.

The use or possession of controlled, psychoactive, or illegal substances (e.g. cannabis) will not be tolerated. You will face University disciplinary action and the matter will be referred to the Police.