UCL ESTATES
Fire Safety
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
PREMISES FIRE SAFETY HANDBOOK
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
BIDBOROUGH HOUSE
University College London
38 - 50 Bidborough Street, London, WC1H 9BT
Contents
1.
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
2.
General Building Description ......................................................................................................................... 2
3.
Means of Escape (MoE) ................................................................................................................................. 2
4.
Instruction to Building Occupants................................................................................................................. 3
5.
Specific Evacuation Instructions .................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
6.
Emergency Disabled Evacuation Provisions ............................................................................................... 4
7.
Centrally Timetabled Space - Disabled Access Provisions ....................................................................... 6
8.
Fire Alarm (specific Information) ................................................................................................................... 6
9.
Fire Extinguishers .............................................................................................................................................. 6
10. Other Information ............................................................................................................................................ 7
INTRODUCTION NOTES
This document provides information that you need to know in order to use your building safely whilst complying with UCL policy
and fire safety legislation. Each UCL building has been given a risk rating, and this dictates how often fire safety reviews take
place, as well as how often departmental staff and fire evacuation marshals should receive full fire safety training.
UCL Departments must ensure that:

all staff are adequately trained on induction;

this training is refreshed periodically (depending on the fire risk rating);

fire evacuation marshals (FEM) are appointed for each floor the building;

fire evacuation marshals are suitably trained, including refresher trained periodically (depending on the fire risk rating);

departmental areas and the risks contained therein are managed safely;

appropriate arrangements are in place to ensure the safe evacuation of disabled people;
Fire Safety Reviews - UCL Fire Safety Team will periodically carry out fire risk assessments and fire safety reviews. The period in
which these reviews will take place will be dictated by the determined risk of the building.
Every October - a fire drill will be carried out in most UCL buildings and following the drill, fire FEMs will receive a Toolbox Talk of
relevant information to report to their colleagues. A report will be published on line, and this process will act as an annual
training supplement to ensure that UCL people remain aware of the significant findings of our fire risk management process.
1.
Introduction
This short guide provides basic fire safety information to for occupants and
visitors to Bidborough House.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date Last Amended: Jan 16
EP: 1 of 7
Issued by: Fire Safety Manager, Safety Services, UCL Estates, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT / fire@ucl.ac.uk
Premises Fire Safety Handbook
Bldg Name: Bidborough House (400)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2.
General Building Description
The premises is an office building arranged on basement, ground and first to
fourth floors with smaller part storeys at level five to seven. The premises were
originally constructed in 1965, but were comprehensively refurbished in 2008 by
Camden council. The site is broadly rectangular with building elevations on
both Bidborough Street and Mabledon Place.
There are two principal staircases; the west stair discharging onto Mabledon
Place (referred to as Stair A for fire purposes), and the main central stair (Stair
B) that discharges onto Bidborough Street via the main entrance. There are a
number of smaller stairs (Stairs C, D E & F) used as other fire escape routes.
General arrangement plans are attached including the Fire Assembly Point location
3.
Means of Escape (MoE)

Ground to fourth floor (west wing) - escape is available via he nearest exit
to the west stair (Stair A) or the central stair (Stair B);

Ground floor (east wing) - escape is only via the main entrance lobby as
there is no alternative escape route;

First to fourth floor (east wing) - escape is available via the nearest exit to
the central stair (Stair B) or via the east external stair (Stair C);

Fifth & sixth floors (west wing) - escape is available via the west stair (Stair
A); an alternative exit route is via external stair (Stair D) from fifth & sixth
floors across the roof walkway to the eastern external stair (Stair C);
o Note Stair C (external stair east) - this stair is narrow and discharges onto
the vehicle ramp via a security gate at stair base which is fitted with
emergency exit push pad. Once through the gate proceed to the
head of the ramp, use the small wicket door fitted with escape furniture
and discharges through the roller shutter on to Bidborough Street;

Basement level - escape is via the central stair (Stair B) and exit via the
main entrance;

Garage level - escape is via the main vehicle ramp and exit directly onto
Bidborough street. Additionally, there is a fire escape from the North West
corner of the garage via Stair E, which leads up to internal courtyard and
out onto the west stair (Stair A) lobby to Mabledon Place;

Basement Plant Area - escape is via the North West corner of the garage
using Stair E, with an alternative route available using Stair F which leads up
to street level, discharging directly onto Mabledon Place;

Once at ground level, leave the building and proceed to the ‘Fire
Assembly Point’;
o The ‘Fire Assembly Point’ is located on the pavement opposite John
Dodgson House (UCL Halls of Residence) and adjacent to the
Telephone Exchange - see map attached.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date Last Amended: Jan 16
EP: 2 of 7.
Issued by: Fire Safety Manager, UCL Estates, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT / fire@ucl.ac.uk
Premises Fire Safety Handbook
Bldg Name: Bidborough House (400)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4.
Instruction to Building Occupants
Building Fire Risk Rating:
Category 2 Risk.
Fire Risk Assessment in this building will be
undertaken every 3 years
Fire Risk Assessment:
(subject to building changes or alterations)
Fire Risk Assessment
Review:
Interim A (Annually) - Fire Safety Staff;
Department Fire Risk
Review (iaw TN077):
Departments - review annually & keep completed
copies locally for fire brigade inspection;
New Staff Induction - immediate on arrival carry out
full walk of building, escape routes & staff member to
complete ‘Basic Fire Safety’ eLearning on Moodle
Staff Training (TN086):
Refresher - full training as per induction to be
completed by all staff on periods determined in risk
rating time line above.
(Additional refresher training will be delivered by means of Toolbox
Talks. These will be given following fire risk assessments, reviews and
fire evacuation drills, at least annually to FEMs. This information will
then be cascaded to all staff by FEMs).
Relevant
Information
Minimum number of trained FEMs per wing in this
building is: THREE (3)
FEM Training (TN099):
New / Initial FEM training - completed through
eLearning on Moodle.
Refresher - the FEM refresher period is determined in
risk rating time line below.
(Additional refresher training will be delivered by means of Toolbox
Talks. These will be given following fire risk assessments, reviews and
fire evacuation drills, at least annually, to FEMs).
FRA
Category 2 Risk
Every 3 Years
Fire Drill:
Scheduled annually for start of term (October)
Persons with Disabilities:
Department to provide PEEPs
arrangements (see details below)
Other Information:
None
FRA (IA)
FRA (IA)
FRA (IA)
Intermediate A
(Annually)
~~~~~~~
Head of
Departments to
Undertake TN077
Review
Intermediate A
(Annually)
~~~~~~~
Head of
Departments to
Undertake TN077
Review
Intermediate A
(Annually)
~~~~~~~
Head of
Departments to
Undertake TN077
Review
Year
1.
Training
Dept
Staff (eLearning)
FEMs (eLearning)
Toolbox
Talk
FEMs
and
Year
2.
specific
FRA
Category 2 Risk
Year 3
Year
3.
Fire Drill
Fire Drill
Fire Drill
October each Year
Review
FEM Toolbox Talk
October each Year
Review
FEM Toolbox Talk
October each Year
Review
FEM Toolbox Talk
Fire Risk Assessment (FRA) Category 2 Risk Building - Action Time Line
IA = Annual general fire safety walk round likely to be completed in conjunction with Fire Drill / IB = Intermediate Inspection & Review
completed Annually / Category 1 reviewed every 4 years / Category 2 reviewed every 3 years / Category 3 reviewed every 2 years
Training
(Dept)
Staff (eLearning)
FEMs (eLearning)
Toolbox
Talk
FEMs
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date Last Amended: Jan 16
EP: 3 of 7.
Issued by: Fire Safety Manager, UCL Estates, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT / fire@ucl.ac.uk
Premises Fire Safety Handbook
Bldg Name: Bidborough House (400)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5.
Specific Evacuation Instructions
Local fire
information:
Fire Action Notices (and in some premises, additional supplementary
instructions) located throughout the premises at fire points and within
residential sleeping accommodation rooms provide the local fire
Emergency Plan and you should be aware of their contents.
Action on
discovering a
fire:
On discovery or being made aware of a fire, immediately raise the
alarm to give warning throughout the building by operating the nearest
fire alarm manual call point (red).
On hearing
the fire alarm:
On hearing the fire alarm, leave the building immediately by the nearest
available fire exit (this may not necessarily be the way you entered the
building).
(1). This building is equipped with a single stage addressable fire alarm
system. Which when activated, emits a continuous warning throughout
the building.
The fire alarm
system:
Calling the
fire brigade:
Evacuation
procedure
and using lifts
during fire:
(2). Automatic Fire Detection (AFD) – smoke & heat detecting devices
are provided for early warning of fire to aid faster escape.
(3). Manual Call Points (MCPs) - means for raising the fire alarm in
addition to fire detection is by operating MCPs that may be found on
routes leading from the building (including corridors, landings, staircases
& final exits).
Dial Ext: 222 (020-7679-2222) on a UCL Internal Extension and report the
fire (use the Building Reference number to assist in identifying the
premises or the address shown on the UCL Fire Action Notices).
This building’s fire alarm system is monitored on a 24-hour basis who will
summon the Fire Brigade. However, you should always make an
Emergency Telephone call (Ext: ‘222’) to raise the alarm.
On hearing the alarm or being directed by a Fire Evacuation Marshal
(FEM), occupants are to evacuate the building by the nearest available
escape stair, corridor or exit route to the Final Exit from the building. If
your escape route is blocked / obstructed by fire or smoke, you should
turn your back on the fire and follow the alternative route from the
building by following the green fire escape directional signage provided.
Lifts should not be used in the event of the fire alarm sounding.
Fire Assembly
Point:
Electronic
security door
release
mechanisms
see TN002
and TN004:
On leaving the building you should proceed to the Fire Assembly Point;
the location of the Fire Assembly Point(s) is indicated on the local Fire
Action Notices provided, which may also be supplemented with
additional information such as local escape route plans etc. Do not
obstruct the building entrances as this may hinder access to the fire
brigade crews & appliances. Beware of the road traffic and your and
others safety during the evacuation!
Where fitted doors forming part of the Means of Escape (MoE) may be
provided with Electromagnetic Security Locks (Gallagher):
(1). Generally, locks release on activation of the fire alarm system (but
there are some specialist exceptions to this requirement);
(2). Each door in direction of escape is provided with an independent
‘break glass’ emergency release device (green box) that may be
activated to release the door in an emergency.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date Last Amended: Jan 16
EP: 4 of 7.
Issued by: Fire Safety Manager, UCL Estates, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT / fire@ucl.ac.uk
Premises Fire Safety Handbook
Bldg Name: Bidborough House (400)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6.
Emergency Disabled Evacuation Provisions
Mobility Impaired
Persons (MIP) or
Persons with
Disabilities:
Department’s local management arrangements and fire
evacuation strategy for MIP and disabled persons should not
rely solely on the Fire & Rescue Service, rescuing people
waiting in refuges but for the Department to have satisfactory
arrangements in place to assist persons from the building.
Personal Emergency
Evacuation Plan
(PEEP)
Managers should review & use the ‘Disable Information
Emergency Egress Assessment & personal Emergency
Evacuation Plan (PEEP)’ available from
www.ucl.ac.uk/fire/documents under ‘Disabled’
Disabled
Facilities:
Refuge
(Generally, only provided
on individual Risk
Assessment or as part of a
PEEP initiated by the
Department):
Relevant
Information
Some UCL buildings have refuge areas, which are surrounded
by fire-resisting construction. These are to be considered as
temporary waiting areas only. Disabled people should never
be left in the building, as departments must always have
sufficient procedures in place to evacuate all relevant
persons. The refuge may be used as a safe place for a less
ambulant person to wait for everyone else to leave, before
making their way down the stairs (with assistance if
necessary) at their own pace.
Disabled Refuge
Communications
Facilities:
(1). Local coms by phone or talk box with local instructions
and numbers to call;
(Communication
facilities
for disabled refuges have BT
big button telephone or
system complying BS5839-9):
020 7679 3333 (Ext: 33333)
Disabled Evacuation
Lift:
Evacuation Lift - a lift is provided in the west stair (Stair A)
which is suitable to be used by Mobility Impaired Persons
(MIP) under a controlled management process;
Deaf Persons Fire
Alarm Alerting
Facilities (change to
alerting facilities for
hearing impaired
people):
General Emergency
Evacuation Plan
(GEEP):
(2). Mobile Users should call the UCL Security Control Room
(available 24/7) who can arrange help and assistance on:
Alternative Number (24/7) - 020 7387 5256;
UCL Security Ops (24/7) - 020 7679 2108 (Ext: 32108);
Deaf Messaging System (DMS) (see UCL Fire Safety Tech Note TN
007) - a DMS is provided and connected to the fire alarm
system to send out a text message upon fire alarm activation
to those who have opted into the service. Blue information
stickers at the entrance to the building provide the text
information and instructions;
DMS Ref text - BidiboroughDMS31
The building is provided with fire protection to stair A & B which will provide time for arrangements to be made for
others to assist.
The person you are visiting will take you to the refuge, which is
within the evacuation stairway at each level of the building
and ensure that FEM s or others are informed that a refuges is
being used.
If you are able, make you own way down the stairs in your
own time, once all other occupants have passed you.
Other Information:
Refuges - are notional refuges are provided on the landings
of first to sixth floors, west stair (Stair A);
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date Last Amended: Jan 16
EP: 5 of 7.
Issued by: Fire Safety Manager, UCL Estates, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT / fire@ucl.ac.uk
Premises Fire Safety Handbook
Bldg Name: Bidborough House (400)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7.
Centrally Timetabled Space - Disabled Access Provisions
Centrally Timetabled Lecture Theatres & Seminar Rooms - Disable
(Wheelchair) Emergency Egress Facilities / Arrangements
Lecture Theatre
/ Seminar
Room Locations
Accessible /
Egress
All Meeting
Rooms
Accessible
8.
9.
Evacuation Arrangements
(None1 / Limited2 / Accessible3)
All meeting rooms are accessible form West Stair and lift, some
assistance may be required with doors etc.
Fire Alarm (specific Information)

Call points - fire alarm ‘manual call points’ are found in routes leading from
the building (including corridors, landings, staircases & final exits), to raise
the alarm manually;

PA system - the building has the Public Address (PA) facility from the main
reception via the fire alarm control panel;

Sounders - fire alarm sounders are formed of a speaker that incorporates a
PA system that gives a two tone electronic alarm plus voice announcement
to ‘keep calm and leave the building’;

Weekly testing of the fire alarm - see www.ucl.ac.uk/fire/documents TN062;
Fire Extinguishers

Extinguishers - a new type of multipurpose 6 litre WATER MIST fire
extinguishers are provided at Bidborough House; with one extinguisher
provided by each fire alarm call point at three locations (by the stairs) on
ground to fourth floors and one each in the basement, fifth, sixth & seventh
floors. Additionally, extinguishers have been provided at other high risk
locations;

Fire Blankets - are provided in kitchens and tea points;

See www.ucl.ac.uk/fire/documents TN027a & TN035;

Sprinklers - are provided in part of the basement and the garage area only;
1
None - No Disabled Access or Egress available;
2
Limited - Emergency egress requires management & other assistance, should be planned & written up on PEEP;
3
Accessible - Access and Egress available without general assistance as generally facility where practical to self-escape;
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date Last Amended: Jan 16
EP: 6 of 7.
Issued by: Fire Safety Manager, UCL Estates, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT / fire@ucl.ac.uk
Premises Fire Safety Handbook
Bldg Name: Bidborough House (400)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Other Information
(a).
Location and Provision of Lockers (Circulation Areas) - stairs and some
corridors are to remain free of any storage including lockers;
(b).
Kitchens and Tea Points:
(c).

Kitchens - are provided off the main stair (Stair B);

Tea Points - are provided in the west wing adjacent to the exit to the
west stair (Stair A);

Management of unwanted alarms and fire risks - please see
attached Fire Safety Technical Note TN105A on the definition of
kitchens and tea points and what is permitted within them;
Fire Evacuation Marshals - as a low risk building and due to new static &
agile working arrangements, we will need to be pragmatic and
reasonable flexible in the location and number of FEMs covering the
floor areas.

West wing - each level should aim for a minimum of three FEMs

East wing - each level should aim for a minimum of three FEMs
appointed;

West wing 5th & 6th floors - each floor should have a minimum of two
FEMs;

Suggest, that static staff be trained as FEMs and cover the agile
areas;
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date Last Amended: Jan 16
EP: 7 of 7.
Issued by: Fire Safety Manager, UCL Estates, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT / fire@ucl.ac.uk
Fire
Action
Bidborough House
38 - 50 Bidborough Street
On discovering a fire - operate the nearest
fire alarm call point.
Dial extension '222' on a UCL internal
telephone giving the building name and
this FIRE ZONE Number - 400
Only attempt to fight the fire, if it is safe
and practical to do so - using the most
appropriate fire extinguisher for the type of
fire you intend to tackle.
Water Mist Extinguishers are safe to use on
Electrical and Flammable Liquid fires.
On hearing the fire alarm - leave the building
by the nearest AVAILABLE FIRE EXIT.
 CLOSE - all doors and windows as you leave.
 Do NOT - stop to collect belongings.
 Do NOT - use the lift.
 Do NOT - re enter the building until instructed to do so
by the Senior Fire Officer present.
When clear of the building - proceed to your
designated FIRE ASSEMBLY POINT at:
Opposite side of road to
John Dodgson House
Issued by: the Fire Safety Manager, UCL Estates, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT
FIRE ALARM INFORMATION
Deaf Messaging
Service
(Fire Alert)
at
Bidborough House
DEAF TEXT MESSAGING
SERVICE INSTALLED
in this building
To connect to the Fire Alarm Activation
Deaf Messaging Service for
Bidborough House
TEXT this Location:
BIDBOROUGHDMS311
To: 07797 - 870999
Standard Messaging rate applies for more information and terms & conditions visit: www.alarmscom.co.uk
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Issued by the:
Feb 16
Fire Safety Manager, UCL Estates, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT / Email: fire@ucl.ac.uk