We take all reasonable actions to make sure our tenants are safe, particularly with fire safety in flats.
All flats were built with fire safety in mind. Specially designed walls and doors that separate the flats from the communal areas that can resist the spread of fire and smoke. This means that communal areas can provide a safe escape route should a fire break out.
Building safety legislation has changed significantly, and we are working hard to implement these changes to promote positive building safety.
Our dedicated Building Safety Team work closely with qualified experts including Humberside Fire and Rescue Service to keep our residents safe. They monitor our buildings to make sure they're safe and comply with the latest guidelines.
The High Rise Tenancy Management Team manage day to day tenancy and estate management within our high rise buildings and will ensure any building safety hazards are identified and removed.
To ensure the safety of our buildings we -
- carry out fire risk assessments on our high-rise buildings (18m+) and medium-rise buildings (11 to 18m) every year and our low-rise (3 to 5 storey and 2+ storey) buildings every 3 years
- deal with any issues promptly where possible
- install and maintain smoke and heat detectors in our rented homes. If you own your home, you are responsible or if you are renting from a private landlord, it is their responsibility
- regularly check the communal fire doors in the buildings we manage as they help stop the spread of fire and smoke. We also need to check flat entrance doors in buildings over 11 metres (5 Storeys) in height every year.
- make sure communal areas are clear and immediately remove any items left, that could pose a risk or trip hazard in an emergency
We also need your help to be watchful and report any concerns so we can address any possible issues immediately.
How you can help keep yourself safe
Make sure you and everyone you live with reads the fire safety leaflet, you will recevie this through the post once a year. It contains lots of useful important information about how we can and must work together to keep everyone safe.The information on this leaflet can be found on the following pages of this webpage. You can also request the leaflet in a variety of formats such as an alternative language and large print. If you require a copy of the leaflet in an alternative format, contact the Building Safety Team on 01482 615 110 or email Buildingsafety@hullcc.gov.uk.
If you live in a high-rise building, let us know straight away if you have any concerns or need fire safety repairs in your building. You can access our high-rise fire risk assessment policies on our downloads page.
The following pages contain fire safety advice applying to those residents living in flats.
Fire action notice
These are displayed in the entrance and at each floor level throughout the building. This is a legal requirement, and it tells residents and visitors what you need to do in the unlikely event of a fire.
Muster points also known as assembly points are a designated, safe, and clearly marked outdoor location where employees, visitors, or residents gather during an emergency evacuation, such as a fire. These have been provided to high-rise buildings and sheltered residential blocks. You are welcome to use this area to wait for emergency services if you wish.
Flat doors
Flat front doors play a vital role in keeping everyone safe in your building as they are fire and smoke resistant. The minimum requirement for flat front doors is that they provide at least 30 minutes fire and smoke resistance.
Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, we will check all flat front doors in buildings over 11 metres (5 storeys) once a year, whether you rent or own your home.
They have self-closers, which is the mechanism that closes your front door automatically. This is important as, if a fire were to break out, they stop fire, smoke and fumes from getting out into communal areas, escape routes and other flats in the block.
Self-closers must never be tampered with. If the self-closer on your front door doesn’t work, or if your front door is damaged in any way, let us know so we can make sure it’s fixed and provides you and your neighbours with protection if a fire were to break out. You can report repairs through -
- 01482 300 300
- myHousing App
Do not fit security gates or grills to your front door. They can slow you and your family down if you need to get out in an emergency. They can also obstruct the Fire Service from doing their job and gaining access to fight fire and rescue people.
Residents must not drill, stick or attach anything to either the inside or outside the door or frame including -
- signs
- stickers
- ornaments
Residents may be charged for any damage caused to the door or frame if items are found to have been added.
Thumb turn locks (allowing for locking and unlocking a door internally without a key) have been installed on all flat doors. If you do not have a thumb turn lock on your flat door, we will install one free of charge, report a repair through -
- 01482 300 300
- myHousing app
You should not need a key to evacuate your building.
Bin chute
if in doubt don’t put it down if you try to get larger items to go down the chute it will cause a blockage and become a fire hazard. Please use the chutes correctly -
- bag up your rubbish, left over foodstuffs, tea bags, etc, using only small carrier bags and tie them up
- nappies and feminine products should be disposed of in a suitable paper or plastic bag
- do not put cigarettes, matches, batteries or any other flammable items down the chute
You can request a bulky item collection. If you request a bulky item collection, confirm the collection date when requesting the service. It is important that you do not put any items outside of the building prior to the date of collection as this could create a fire hazard.
What can go down the chute -
- small plastic carriers to bag up rubbish (17 inches or 43 centimeters deep by 15 inches or 38 centimeters wide)
- flattened plastic bottles
- torn up large cardboard boxes
What can not go down the chute -
- cigarettes, matches, batteries or other flammable items
- leftover pizza boxes
- large cardboard boxes or bin bags
- pillows or duvets
- vapes or e-cigarettes
Wheelie bins
To help prevent theft and arson attacks, residents should -
- store bins safely within the boundary of their properties, especially at night
- avoid blocking doorways and placing bins under windows
- put bins out at 7am on collection days and return them as soon as possible
- avoid overfilling bins and leaving loose bagged rubbish around them
You can find more information on our bins and recycling page.
Mobility scooters, e-bikes and e-scooters
Wider fire safety information on the use of mobility scooters, E-bikes and e-scooters can be found on our fire safety page.
Mobility scooters, e-bikes and e-scooters must not be left in any communal areas. The charging and storage of these vehicles is strictly prohibited in communal spaces. We will remove these items.
Do not leave mobility scooters or any other vehicles at the main entrance or exits to your block.
Do not store mobility scooters, e-bikes or e-scooters near the entrance to your home or anywhere near an escape route. If you have a garage or shed, store them there.
For more information, visit the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) website.
Motorcycles
Do not bring motorcycles, mopeds, quad bikes or any machinery with a petrol or diesel engine into the block.
If you do, you may be in breach of your tenancy agreement. More information can be found on our tenancies page.