Fire Safety in your home

Keep yourself and your loved ones safe and take a look at the important fire safety information on this page.

 

 

Individual properties

If you live in a single property, you can follow these simple steps to help keep you and your family safe;

  • Keep all exits in your home clear so that everyone can escape in the event of a fire. Mark sure that door and window keys are easy to find
  • Do not wedge open self-closing doors. They should be kept closed to prevent fire and smoke spreading
  • Decide on the easiest way out of your home and make sure everyone knows how to escape if there is a fire. Before you open any internal doors, check the door and handle with your hand. Never open the door if it feels warm, as there may be a fire on the other side
  • Test your smoke alarms weekly
  • Switch off and unplug electrical equipment before you go to bed, unless the appliance is designed to be left on, like a fridge
  • Don’t overload electrical sockets
  • Check that plugs, leads and electrical equipment are safe and well maintained. If you notice damaged, hot or scorched plugs or sockets, inform RHA immediately and we’ll arrange for a qualified electrician to visit your home

Flats, sheltered housing and accommodation with communal areas

If you live in a flat or sheltered housing scheme with a communal area the fire alarms are tested, serviced and maintained regularly by a competent person and we carry out regular fire risk assessments of the shared areas of all of our properties. The buildings are designed with fire safety in mind and as such, in order to maintain this level of safety you should follow these steps to keep you and your neighbours’ safe;

  • Do not wedge open self-closing doors – either in your own property or in the communal area. These doors are designed to stop the spread of smoke and fire
  • Do not keep items of furniture or decoration in the communal areas. These areas are required to be ‘sterile’ so that, in the event of smoke and fire, the communal areas are clear for a safe evacuation (if a full evacuation policy is in place for your block).
  • Keep all exits in your home and the communal areas clear for ease of access/egress in the event of fire
  • Know the quickest and safest way for you to evacuate your home if required. Before you open any internal doors, check the door and handle with your hand. Never open the door if it feels warm, as there may be a fire on the other side
  • Test the smoke alarm in your own property weekly
  • Switch off and unplug electrical equipment in your own property before you go to bed, unless the appliance is designed to be left on, like a fridge
  • Don’t overload electrical sockets and ensure electrical sockets found in communal areas aren’t overloaded
  • Check that plugs, leads and electrical equipment in your own property and in communal areas are safe and well maintained. If you notice damaged, hot or scorched plugs or sockets, inform RHA immediately and we’ll arrange for a qualified electrician to visit

Keeping you fire safe at home

We keep this page updated.

If you would like to know more about staying safe at home, or about fire safety generally then get in touch with us.

Call: 01443 424200

Email: [email protected]

Staying safe

For full details on staying safe at home then please get in touch with RHA Health & Safety Business Partner.

We are here to help you.

If you have any concerns about your ability, or the ability of someone you know, to safely evacuate your home – such as a mobility or sensory impairment – please contact your Neighbourhood Officer on 01443 424 200, who will arrange for someone to complete a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan with you.

If you would like more information on fire safety in your home, please visit the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service website https://southwales-fire.gov.uk/en-GB/your-safety-wellbeing/at-home/ – you’ll find more hints and tips on staying safe at home as well as a request form for a Safe and Well visit carried out by the Fire Service.

To report a fire safety concern to us, please call 01443 424 200

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Got a question? Get in touch! [email protected] 01443 424200 CF40 1BE