Housing health and safety

Fire safety

Simultaneous evacuation guidance

If there is a fire in your home or anywhere within the building

Alert as many people as possible and leave immediately, closing all doors behind you. Raise the alarm by activating the nearest call-point. Get out, stay out and call 999.

Do not stop to collect possessions. Move away from the building so you do not obstruct the fire service and do not return until you have been told it is safe to do so.

Stay put guidance

If there is a fire in your home

Alert as many people as possible and leave immediately, closing all doors behind you. Raise the alarm by activating the nearest call-point (if present) or by shouting ‘Fire! Fire! Fire!’ Get out, stay out and call 999

If there is a fire in another part of the building

Stay put - it is normally safe to do so. Listen to all direction provided by the Fire and Rescue Service. However, if there is any sign of heat or smoke inside your home, leave immediately.

Be prepared:

• Keep all doors in the building closed.
• Do not smoke in communal areas, lifts, stairs, or landings.
• Extinguish your cigarettes fully and safely.
• Understand what safety actions you can take in the event of a fire.

How fire doors keep you safe

Your front door is a fire door and is designed to slow down the spread of a fire.

To make sure your fire door works properly:

• Never make any changes to the door such as painting it or installing a letter box.
• Keep the door closed, do not prop it open and never remove the self-closer.
• Report any faults or damage as soon as you notice them.

Assistance in the event of a fire

Some residents may require extra assistance in the event of an evacuation, such as those with health or mobility issues.

If your health has deteriorated since you moved into your home and you think you may struggle to evacuate the building by yourself in the event of a fire, please contact your housing officer to request a personal evacuation plan assessment.

Keeping communal areas safe and tidy

Communal areas are those that you share with other residents such as entrances, landings, and stairwells, which must be kept clear at all times.

Items left in communal areas can be dangerous – keep them clear so you can escape quickly in an emergency, avoiding slips, trips, and falls. All bins are to be stored away from the building and must not obstruct pathways or entrances.

Test that your smoke alarm works

• Test your smoke alarms at least monthly by pressing the button on them.
• If the alarm does not sound, please contact our Council Housing Repairs team. If you rent privately, contact your landlord.
• If your smoke alarm goes off by mistake, do not tamper with it. Just wait for it to stop.
• If you hear a neighbour’s smoke alarm sounding, do not ignore it but alert the resident. If they do not respond, call 999.

Fire safety tips

Electrical safety:

• Do not overload sockets - keep to one plug per socket
• Charge electrical items, like mobile phones, during the day when you are awake and aware. Avoid charging them at night.
• Avoid storing or charging lithium battery devices (e.g. mobility scooters, e-bikes and e-scooters) in your home, and never in communal areas. If charging at home is necessary, use a room with a closable door and avoid hallways to keep exits clear. If you require a mobility vehicle then it must comply with our policy. Please contact your housing officer before acquiring one.

Heaters:

• If you feel the need to supplement the heating in your home with portable heaters, we advise using oil-filled radiators as these are the safest and most economical option.
• Keep electric heaters at least one metre away from people, furniture, and items such as blankets, cushions, and newspapers.
• Never use an electric heater to dry clothes.

Make an escape plan:

• Plan your escape routes and keep your exits clear. The best route is the usual way in and out of your home.
• Keep door and window keys handy and tell members of your household where they are.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service offer free Home Fire Safety Visits for those eligible. They will check your smoke detection equipment, discuss fire safety within your home and share opportunities for you to reduce any risks.

For further information and advice on fire safety in your home from Suffolk County Council.

Asbestos

Visit the HSE website for up to date information about asbestos.

Water safety

Visit the HSE website for up to date information about Legionella and Legionnaires' disease

Lithium-ion batteries safety

Lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous throughout the UK as many households now have a raft of rechargeable electrical items ranging from toothbrushes, phones, tablets, and tools. The increasing trend for e-scooters, e-bikes, and with an aging population, mobility scooters, is bringing larger, more powerful lithium-ion batteries into the home.

Lithium-ion batteries come with beneficial features, which make them ideal for underpinning those devices we use the most. They have a high energy density, longer lifespans boosted by being rechargeable, and are comparatively lightweight. 

However, their high energy density, which is usually considered to be very safe, can also pose potential fire risks. This risk is present during the charging process when heat is generated, which can cause individual cells within a given battery to overheat. In the event of this occurring, the melting point of the lithium may be exceeded, which can then trigger a chain reaction and what could potentially be an uncontrollable fire.  This process is called thermal runaway.

Safety Tips

• Check your lithium-ion batteries regularly for any signs of damage to the battery casing or its terminals, swelling, and/ or hotspots. Do not use or attempt to recharge any damaged batteries.
• Check your battery charging devices and cables for any signs of damage. Do not use any damaged equipment.
• Dispose of lithium-ion batteries by the approved and correct way. Do not dispose of batteries in your household waste bins as this can lead to fires at the waste collection centres or at landfill.
• Do not over-charge a lithium-ion battery or charge them is a hot environment. Always charge them in a well-ventilated area.
• Do not charge lithium-ion batteries overnight of leave them unattended.
• E-bikes, e-scooters and mobility scooters should not be charged in the entrance hallway of your home. A fire in this area would significantly reduce the chances of you and your family escaping your home safely and without injury in the event of a battery fire.
• E-bikes, e-scooters and mobility scooters should not be stored or charged in the communal areas of blocks of flats.
• If you live in a block of flats and need the use a mobility scooter, you must contact your Housing Officer and sign-up to the Council’s Mobility Scooter Policy.
• Only buy e-bikes, e-scooters, mobility scooters, e-bike conversion kits, and other rechargeable equipment from reputable sources making sure it complies with British and European safety standards.
• Anecdotal information indicates that many fires caused by lithium-ion batteries operating e-bikes and e-scooters have been linked to those conversion kits or batteries purchased online. If something is so cheap that it seems too good to be true, then its probably is and should be avoided.
• If the plan is to add a lithium-ion battery to an e-bike or e-scooter as part of a conversion move, consider employing the services of a professional to carry out the installation. On that note, if this process has already been conducted, look into having a trained technician to maintain and check the battery. Bear in mind it’s recommended that the battery is checked every two-to-three months.
• If your battery begins to crackle, hiss, and/or emit a gas, it has entered thermal runaway. You do not have the time to unplug it (if its charging) or remove the device from your home. Warn others, get out immediately, stay out, and call the Fire Service on 999.