Fire, Safety & Security

The Singleton Park Campus and Bay Campus Security teams provide 24/7 security provision. This provision includes patrols throughout the campus, monitoring of CCTV footage, first responders to alarms and the management of lost property. The Security team also act as the first aiders across all sites.

During your time in accommodation, you can help in the security and safety of the accommodation by:

• Securing your bedroom windows
• Ensure your bedroom and flat door are locked and the doors close tightly behind you
• Be aware of ‘tailgaters’ – unauthorised persons following you into your accommodation
• Report any unusual activity or incidents

Emergency procedures information is posted on the back of your bedroom door.

How do I get hold of Security in an emergency?

Call +44 (0) 1792 604271 or by using the SafeZone app.
In case you require the emergency services (Ambulance, Police or Fire Service) please call 999.

Always think about your security in residences and be diligent. Lock your room, close windows and doors behind you when you go out. If you don’t, this may invalidate your contents insurance policy, as well as compromising the security of other residents. Burglaries in residences are rare but walk-in opportunist thefts can occur if doors / windows are left open.

• Don’t let anyone into your building or flat that you don’t know
• Lock your room, even if you’re just popping out momentarily
• Don’t leave valuables on display - keep them out of sight or lock away in a secure place
• If you are on the ground floor, close your window when you leave your room
• Contact Security (see above) if you see anything suspicious
• Notify residents if you’re going away to avoid causing concern

If you need to report a theft, call your Site Reception team and the police on +44 (0) 1792 456999. You will need a crime reference number for an insurance claim.

Please remember that fire rules and regulations are in place to protect you and other residents from the risk of fire. We have a responsibility to ensure that you know what to do in the event of an emergency, so please take the time to familiarise yourself with the basics to keep you safe.

Fire safety instructions are located throughout the accommodation and can be found on your bedroom door and on communal notice boards. Please read these fire and safety signs when moving in.

• Please ensure all fire exits and communal areas are clear of all belongings, this includes the exit route from your bedroom.
• Do not leave your cooking unattended.
• Burnt grease on cooker hobs is a fire hazard so be sure to clean them regularly.
• Candles, incense sticks and burners pose a real fire risk and are not permitted in residences.
• Personal heaters, gas canisters and other flammable materials are not permitted in residences.
• Personal cooking equipment (such as: hot plates; grills; sandwich toasters; rice cookers) must only be used and stored in kitchen areas. Use of such items is not permitted in bedrooms.
• Deep fat fryers pose a significant fire risk and are not permitted in residences.
• We have frequent issues at the start of term with steam from showers activating alarms, so remember to close bathroom doors during and after showers.

Everyone has a responsibility to know what to do in the event of an emergency, so please take the time to understand this information. For more detials on fire safety, you can refer to your student accommodation induction on your Accommodation Account.

Fire alarm tests are carried out once per week and take place in each building. During the test, the alarm will sound for a few seconds. If the alarm sounds continuously, this indicates an actual fire alarm activation. In the event of an actual fire alarm, evacuation procedures should be followed.

Please refer to the emergency evacuation procedure in your bedroom to know what to do in the event of a fire. Evacuate quickly by using the stairs; not the lifts. If you discover a fire, you must sound the fire alarm, leave the building and proceed to the designated assembly point for the building. You must not put yourself at risk at any time.

The University is legally required to carry out fire evacuation drills on all its buildings. A rolling programme of drills for the academic year will start soon after your arrival.

Fire drills are designed to be as realistic as possible and a continuous ringing alarm will sound. All occupants are required to leave the residence buildings and meet at the publicised assembly point.

Failure to adhere to procedures or co-operate during a fire drill evacuation may result in disciplinary action.

There is a lift located in each of our accommodation blocks. They are checked and maintained by our maintenance technicians and external engineers.

To prevent the lift going into fault, please follow these simple rules:

• Only enter the lift car when the external level light is illuminated.
• Never obstruct the lift car doors. If you need the doors to be open for a longer period, please press the <> button on the internal lift car panel. Manually holding or jamming the doors open will cause the lift to go into fault.
• There is a weight limit displayed in the lift cars. Overfilling, or jumping in the lift can cause the lift to go into fault.

In the unlikely event of the lift going in to fault during use, please press and hold the call button and you will be connected to the engineer call centre, where a member of the team will ask for some details and an engineer will be dispatched. Tampering with the emergency button could result in costs and disciplinary action being applied. All lifts are monitored by CCTV for your safety.

If the fire alarm is activated whilst using the lift, the lift car will automatically lower to the ground floor and the doors will open. The lift will remain out of service until the alarm is reset.

There are several items which are prohibited from our accommodation for safety reasons. The below list is not exhaustive, and items can be added, and restrictions applied if necessary. If you are found to be in possession of prohibited items or order suspected items to the accommodation this can lead to disciplinary action.

• Refrigerators, including mini fridges, must be stored in kitchens (with the exception of those provided by the Univeristy in Part Catered accommodation and for medical purposes)
• Nitrous oxide canisters
• Candles and naked flames
• Incense Sticks
• Dart boards
• Barbecues
• Weapons i.e. bows, arrows, spears etc.
• Fireworks
• Compressed gas cylinders

The Accommodation team reserve the right to enter any room at any time to investigate, remove and confiscate any items which constitute a fire hazard.

Window restrictors are installed on all windows for security and safety reasons. These restrictors are not to be removed or interfered with for any reason. Do not force windows and remember to close windows when you leave your accommodation.

Damage caused by windows being left open may result in charges being applied. If you are unsure how to operate your window, please speak to a member of staff. Please be aware when storing items on windowsills, disciplinary action will be taken for any damage caused by falling or thrown items. Under no circumstances are items to be thrown from the accommodation or stored on external sills.

Please be aware and take extra care and security if your room is situated on the ground floor and ensure windows are always closed if your room is unoccupied.

You are not permitted to access attic, roof areas, maintenance walkways, riser cupboards or any other unauthorised areas.

If you have an accident or require First Aid, please speak to a member of the team in your Residence Reception who will advise you accordingly and complete an accident form. Any completed accident forms are reviewed during the departmental Safety Review meetings.

A Near Miss is an occurrence that has the potential to cause an accident. Please report any near misses before an accident happens.

During cold weather, students are advised to take extra care, as surfaces may become slippery. If there is a risk of snow or ice, main walkways, entrances, and steps will be gritted. Following snow fall these areas will be cleared (as soon as practically possible) and regularly checked.
In high winds and heavy rain, extra care must be taken to keep windows closed.