Fire safety standards
Peterborough City Council and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue are
co-signatories to a memorandum of understanding which means that we
have agreed standards for fire safety in most types of home,
including houses in multiple occupation. this agreement allows for
the council to act on all matters of fire safety in living
accommodation without the need to consult with them. The exceptions
to this are where the solution to a particular situation is
outside the agreed standard, or where the property consists of a
mixture of residential and commercial premises. The agreed fire
safety standard is the 'Guidance on fire safety provisions
for certain types of existing housing', published by the
Local Authorities Co-ordinators of
Regulatory Services (LACoRS). The aim of the standards is
to deliver a fire safety package which is proportionate to the
risks from fire to which the occupants of a house are exposed.
Fire alarms
Fire can break out in even the most safety concious household,
any should this happen, toxic smoke can very quickly spread
thoroughout the house. It is most important, therefore to alert the
occupants as soon as possible that a fire has broken out in the
house. The most effective way of providing this early warning is to
fit an electrically operated fire detection and alarm system.
These can range from single, battery operated smoke alarms which
are widely available from only a few pounds to quite sophisticated
mains operated systems linked to a remote monitoring service
who will alert Fire and Rescue should the alarm be actuated in the
property. Both the council and Fire and Rescue recommend a system
of smoke and heat alarms which are mains operated and have a
battery backup. Smoke alarms must be interlinked, either by
physical interwiring or by a wireless signal, so that when one
alarm detects a fire, all the alarms in the building will
sound.
In single family homes and low risk houses in
multiple occupation the normal standard would be
to provide smoke alarms in the circulation space (hall, stairs
and landing) and heat alarms in the kitchen. In most other types of
HMO additional alarms are located inside the lettings.
Means of escape
In all cases there should be a clear escape route from all parts
of the house to open air. This is usually the landing, staircase
and hallway to the front door. These routes must be kept clear of
obstruction and lockable door should be openable from the inside
without using keys. In all but the low risk houses in multiple occupation,
doors onto the escape route should be to an approved fire
resisting standard. Windows are not accepted as means of escape
however ground and first floor windows must be openable to allow
exit or access for rescue should the normal escape route not be
available.
Firefighting equipment
It is recommended that all kitchens are provided with a fire
blanket, kept in an easily accessible position. It is also
generally recommended that this is supplemented by a 2Kg Dry Powder
extinguisher in or near to the kitchen (the extinguisher may be
needed to cover other hazards on the ground floor). In HMOs it is
normal to fit a 2Kg Dry Powder extinguisher on each landing. You
should contact your Neighbourhood Housing Enforcement Officer on
01733 747474 for further information relevant to your
property.