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- Student accommodation landlords or building managers are responsible for complying with all relevant standards and legislation, including the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.<\/a><\/li>\n
- As a minimum, landlords or management must ensure that every floor has smoke alarms, up-to-standard fire doors, fire extinguishing facilities such as extinguishers and blankets, and fire alarm systems.<\/li>\n
- Alongside fire safety equipment, responsible parties must conduct regular fire risk assessments, make changes where needed or when a new risk is identified, and communicate the fire safety procedures in place to all student residents.<\/li>\n
- Accommodation over 11 metres is subject to additional rules around verifying the safety of building materials, providing information and reporting to the local fire service, and conducting more regular inspections.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
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\nThe Basics of Fire Safety Obligations for Student Landlords and Dorm Managers<\/h2>\n
Many of the current standards have been in place for some time. They focus on minimising the potential for an appliance to malfunction, fitting adequate smoke or fire detection systems, installing functional carbon monoxide detectors, and providing appropriate fire extinguishers.<\/p>\n
However, much of the confusion about changing responsibilities arises from the contrasts in rules depending on whether a student accommodation building is new or long-standing, a residential or purpose-built property, a single or double-storey home, or a high-rise building.<\/p>\n
The following rules typically apply to any student accommodation on a university campus or a private rental property elsewhere.<\/p>\n
Fire Safety Facilities<\/h3>\n
Student accommodation buildings should have at least one fire alarm on every floor of the property, with a policy in place to test alarms and call points regularly and maintain them to ensure they are in good working order.<\/p>\n
Fire doors certified to the appropriate standards should be fitted where required and inspected to ensure there is no damage and that doors are not being propped open.<\/p>\n
Fire extinguishers or blankets should be installed next to potential points of ignition or higher-risk areas, such as in kitchens, and CO2 alarms should be installed in any space with a gas appliance.<\/p>\n
Maintaining and Testing Appliances<\/h3>\n
Furnishings and furniture provided by the landlord or university must meet fire safety standards and be made from fire-resistant materials. Any repair work must be completed as quickly as possible and within 28 days at the latest.<\/p>\n
Appliances like TVs, fridges, freezers, and microwaves should be PAT tested and replaced or decommissioned immediately if they fail.<\/p>\n
Landlords and accommodation supervisors should also hold a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), which needs to be updated every five years and confirms that the building’s electrics are safe.<\/p>\n
Student Communications<\/h3>\n
Landlords and responsible parties must communicate a clear fire safety plan and risk assessment process with student residents, including instructions about how they should report maintenance issues or faults and raise the alarm in an emergency.<\/p>\n
They must ensure that students know how to evacuate the building, where the escape routes are, and where fire alarm call points are, eliminating the risk of hesitation or a failure to evacuate at the first signs of a fire.<\/p>\n
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\nUnderstanding Student Accommodation Fire Safety Legislation Reforms<\/h2>\n
Recent changes following the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the student accommodation fire at The Cube in Bolton<\/a> have introduced new rules. However, these apply primarily or only to multi-occupant or multi-storey residential student housing.<\/p>\n
While these are partly intended to clarify and strengthen fire safety regulations, they’ve also prompted concern from accommodation management and landlords who are unsure whether their current policies are sufficient or whether they need to take additional steps.<\/p>\n
The existing legislation, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, remains in place, but the Fire Safety Act 2021 has augmented it.<\/p>\n
This includes new rules and revisions, including the requirement to share fire reporting procedures and instructions with all new residents as soon as possible when they move in and fire safety rules around the use of fire doors.<\/p>\n
New Fire Safety Regulations for Student Accommodation Over Eleven Metres in Height<\/h2>\n
The following requirements apply specifically to multi-storey buildings, and in particular, student accommodation that is 11 metres or more in height:<\/p>\n
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- Fire safety doors must be included within fire risk assessments, ensuring these are self-closing, in good repair, and checked regularly at least every 12 months.<\/li>\n
- Checks on fire doors in communal areas should now be performed at least every three months, alongside checks of frames, glazing, and smoke seals.<\/li>\n
- Landlords or managers must add clear wayfinding signage for evacuations and to assist emergency services, including for buildings constructed before November 2020, when this was not a Building Regulations requirement.<\/li>\n
- There must be a secure information box with a copy of floor plans, contact details for the responsible person, and any other individuals with the authority to access the building on their behalf.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Importantly, this new regulation requires landlords or student accommodation providers to record the design and materials used within the external walls and share this information with the local fire and rescue service.<\/p>\n
If there are any fire safety risks linked to the cladding, insulation, building materials, structural integrity, and any fixtures or attachments, the responsible person must detail the steps they have taken to mitigate risks and report this to the local fire department.<\/p>\n
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\nHow to Ensure Your Student Accommodation is Fully Compliant With All Fire Regulations<\/h2>\n
We appreciate that there are multiple rules, expectations, obligations, and requirements. It can be difficult to navigate or identify where current fire safety provisions need to be revised or updated to remain fully up to speed.<\/p>\n
If you have any concerns about your approach to fire safety in student accommodation, how the new regulations might impact you, or whether you need to make swift changes, please contact our experienced fire safety consultants, who will be happy to advise. We offer a wide range of fire and security systems for student accommodation<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Should you find that changes are necessary, we can also share insights into the best solutions in terms of quick installation times, full compliance with the standards, and cost-efficiency, ensuring you take a proactive stance on fire safety that more than satisfies your obligations.<\/p>\n
References:<\/h2>\n