Fire safety and evacuation in your building

E-bikes, e-scooters and other electrically powered vehicles (EPVs) 

Do not charge or store electrically powered vehicles in communal areas. 

• Batteries should always be charged on hard flat surfaces. 

• Ensure batteries do not get knocked around and DO NOT USE a damaged battery. 

• Do not expose the batteries to extreme temperatures.  

• Always follow manufacturers’ guidance when charging . 

• Always unplug the EPV when you’ve finished charging.  

• Always use the correct batteries and chargers.  

• Do not charge or store electrically powered vehicles in communal areas or close to escape routes.  

• Do not leave charging electrically powered vehicles unattended. 

• Avoid modifying e-bikes, e-scooters, batteries or chargers. 

• Be careful when purchasing second-hand devices or batteries. 

Front doors: council tenants 

In blocks of flats, most fires occur within the flats themselves.  

Front doors prevent the spread of fire and smoke into communal areas.  

• Occupants should not tamper with their front entrance door or frame. This includes parts of the door, such as self-closing devices and letterboxes. 

• Communal fire doors and fire doors within your property should remain shut when not in use.  

• Do not wedge open fire doors. 

• Residents should report any damage or faults to your front doors immediately. 

Leaseholder doors 

Front doors to the property are the leaseholder’s responsibility.  

• If your front door leads to a communal space, your front doors should be fire resistant to a minimum standard of 30 minutes. 

• You should not tamper with or remove your door's self-closing device.  

• You must keep the door shut when not in use. 

• If you have replaced the front door or frame to your property, please provide us with the evidence that your door meets fire safety requirements. 

Security gates and grilles 

• Security grilles or gates put residents at risk of becoming trapped should a fire occur in their flat.  

• Security grilles or gates can slow emergency services from entering the property. 

• Security grilles or gates can compromise the fire resistance of the walls or door they are attached to. 

• If you wish to install a security gate you will need to request permission from your Housing Liaison Officer. 

Kitchen doors 

• ​Kitchen doors reduce the risk of a fire spreading from a fire that has started in your kitchen.  

• Kitchens are considered a high fire risk area in properties due the presence of cooking appliances and hot oil. 

• Please ensure your kitchen door is kept closed when not occupying the room. Please DO NOT remove your kitchen door. 

Bin chutes 

Waste should not be stored in communal areas or within bin chute rooms. If waste does not fit in the bin chutes it should be taken out of the building to the external bins. 

Storage cupboards 

• You must not store flammable materials with ignition sources.  

• Flammable materials should not be stored in resident storage cupboards. 

•  The walls and doors to the storage cupboards should not be tampered with. 

Parking 

It is forbidden to park bikes, motorbikes or mopeds close to the building or in communal areas. 

Storing items safely 

Please do not leave the following unauthorised items in communal areas: 

• Naked flames or burning items, eg: candles or incense sticks.  

• DIY items, paint, solvents and oils.  

• Shoes or clothing.  

• Seasonal items such as festive decorations and lighting.  

• Bags and boxes of old clothes or newspapers.  

• Prams, push chairs or children’s car seats.  

• Batteries or charging leads for e-bikes, e-scooters or mobility scooters. 

• Potentially explosive substances like gas, fuels, petrol and thinners.  

• Canvas and textile-based artwork or unframed/uncovered pictures.  

• White goods (whether awaiting collection disposal or otherwise.)  

• Furniture . 

• Waste/black bags.  

• Mobility scooters, e-scooters or mopeds.