As thousands of students settle into university accommodation for the new academic year, the London Fire Brigade is highlighting the importance of understanding fire risks when living away from home for the first time.
The warning follows 145 fires in student accommodation and halls of residence across London over the past five years, with around a third of university-related callouts linked to cooking.
E-bikes, e-scooters and escape routes
While cooking remains a familiar source of risk, the London Fire Brigade is also drawing particular attention to the growing danger associated with lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters.
For students looking for an affordable way to travel around a city, e-bikes and e-scooters can be attractive options. However, their batteries can present a serious fire risk when damaged, incorrectly charged, modified or sourced from unreliable suppliers.
One incident highlighted by the Brigade involved an e-bike battery failing in the corridor of student accommodation, blocking the residents’ escape route. A student was ultimately rescued by firefighters after becoming trapped and having to climb onto a window ledge.
Students are advised never to charge batteries while asleep, always to use the correct charger and, crucially, never to store an e-bike or e-scooter where it could obstruct an escape route.
Everyday activities can have serious consequences
Cooking and candles continue to present more traditional fire risks.
Earlier this year, a toaster fire in student halls in Greenwich resulted in ten students being evacuated, half of the affected flat being destroyed and 17 students requiring alternative accommodation.
In another incident, 450 people were evacuated from student accommodation in High Holborn after a candle was accidentally left burning.
These incidents demonstrate how an apparently minor everyday activity can quickly develop into a significant fire.
Fire safety is about more than individual behaviour
The Brigade’s campaign rightly focuses on helping students understand their responsibilities, but effective fire safety in student accommodation also depends upon the building itself.
Those responsible for student residential buildings need to ensure appropriate fire precautions are properly specified, installed, inspected and maintained.
That includes fire doors, compartmentation and fire stopping, alarm systems, protected escape routes and the effective management of penetrations through fire-resisting walls and floors.
A holistic approach to student fire safety
At ember, we believe effective fire safety requires a holistic approach.
Good resident awareness is essential, but it must work alongside robust fire safety management and correctly installed and maintained passive fire protection.
With large numbers of young people living together, often independently for the first time, student accommodation is an environment where there is little room for complacency.
Fire safety should be built into the building, reinforced through effective management and understood by everyone who lives there.
How ember can help
ember provides specialist fire consultancy and passive fire expertise to help building owners, managers and responsible persons understand risk, demonstrate compliance and protect the people who use their buildings.
From fire strategy and compartmentation through to passive fire inspections and compliance support, our team can help you take a joined-up approach to fire safety.
If you are responsible for student accommodation or other residential buildings and would like to discuss your fire safety requirements, get in touch with ember.
Fire contained. Compliance proven.
