SAF13-P32
16 October 2013
Health, Safety & Environment Committee
Subject: University Fire Officer’s Report September 2013
1. Fire Incidents
There has been no fire related incident in the current reporting period:
2.
Controlled Fire Evacuations (conducted Sept-11)
The annual controlled fire evacuations exercise was carried out during September
2013 at Holywell (Charnwood & Garendon wings), Holywell Building, Park and
SportPark.
Overall the evacuations were extremely good and all occupants within the buildings at the
time of the test responded to the alarm, evacuated the buildings and promptly assembled at
the designated assembly points. All occupants were thanked for their prompt response.
All Fire Marshals present at the time of the controlled evacuation performed their duties well,
which involved them sweeping their designated areas of the building and reporting to the fire
assembly point to police the persons assembled.
3. Freshers
Loughborough Fire & Rescue Station has once again assisted in the delivery of fire safety
advice approximately 3500 Fresher’s this year. In addition to increasing the fire safety
awareness to students, their commitment also helps in considerably reducing the number of
false alarms at the University. Below are just a few comments from parents attending with
their son/daughter at registration.
I am really impressed that you have taken
time to discuss fire safety, highlighting the
distractions, it has certainly given me
reassurance.
I am a fire fighter from West Yorkshire
“ I am really impressed” Although I have
discussed fire safety with my son, but
it is always good to reinforce it.
The poster is quite striking and sends
out a clear message.
Thank you for talking to my son, you are quite right with the distractions such as lap
tops, phones, ipads, I know my son as no perception of time and it is good that you are
highlighting the distractions especially when cooking.
In conjunction with the Student Union Exec I also managed to get a 10 minute audience with
each hall fresher intake (15 in total) and 2 audiences with the international students. These
sessions provided me with an opportunity to remind them of the fire safety procedures and
facilities provided, and in particular, to emphasise the need to be extra vigilant during
possible further industrial action by the Fire & Rescue Service.
4. Industrial action by the Fire & Rescue Service
The Fire Brigade Union are currently engaged in an industrial dispute with their employers,
which could be drawn out for several months to come. Short duration strikes can be called at
any time with only 7 days’ notice. During periods of strike action we have been advised that
emergency assistance may be greatly delayed and only confirmed fires will be responded to
and this could be much slower due to the reduction in the number of appliances available.
Only 6 tenders are likely to be available for the whole of Leicestershire, with 3 of these
committed to the city centre. Fires will be fought defensively unless a saveable life is thought
to be at risk, i.e. fire service personnel will remain outside and contain the spread to other
buildings.
It has been requested that wherever possible we should look to reduce our own fire risks as
much as we can in order to reduce pressure on the Fire Service and to protect our own
assets.
In anticipation of this action, a guidance was initially produced and circulated for comment,
this has subsequently been issued by the University to all Deans of Schools, Heads of
Support Sections, Operation Managers, Wardens and Tenants.
5. Fire Alarm Activations and Fire & Rescue Service call-outs statistics May - August.
Number of
Activations
Activations
involving
F&RS
Genuine
Fires
May 13
54 Residential
0 Dining Halls
16 LU Building
None
June 13
33 Residential
2 Dining Halls
8 LU Building
None
July 13
14 Residential
1 Dining Halls
15 LU Building
None
Aug 13
19 Residential
1 Dining Halls
15 LU Building
None
None
None
None
None
Total
120
4
54
0
0
Loughborough University Buildings (Academic & None-Academic):
1 Angela Marmount
4 Chemistry
2 Design School
1 EHB
1 Fine Arts
4 Gate House
3 Haslegrave
1 Hazlerigg
3 Holywell Park
1 James France
1 John Cooper
4 Link Hotel
1 Michael Pearson West
3 Pilkington Library
2 Power Base
5 S Building
1 Schofield
3 Sir David Davies
1 Sir David Wallace
1 Sir Frank Gibb Lab
1 Sir John Ferguson
2 Sir Richard Morris
1 SportPark
3 Stewart Miller
1 Student Services
1 Swimming Pool
2 Wolfson Building
Dining Halls:
1 Cayley/Rutherford D/Hall
2 Elvyn Richards D/Hall
0 Faraday/Royce D/Hall
0 William Morris D/Hall
Halls of Residence (University Managed)
10 Butler Court
16 Cayley
14 Faraday
16 Royce
1 Towers
1 University Lodge
1 Whitworth
00 200 Ashby Rd
1 David Collett D/Hall
0 Towers D/Hall
6 David Collett
3 Rutherford
13 UPP Blocks
Halls of Residence (Not managed by the University) Unite:
Harry French
6
William Morris
19 Holt
00 Falk / Egg
15 Telford
24 Village Court
0
Note
2 activations during the reporting period at Harry French had no visible cause/reason into
way they should activate
The Major Causes of Fire Alarm Activations in LU Halls of Residence:









50 Unattended cooking in self-catering kitchens
21 Steam from showers in en-suite bedrooms and aerosol sprays
17 Faulty sensors or fire alarm panels
11 Unknown causes
2 Other (water contamination in detector head, lighting strike, power outage etc.)
6 Malicious call point activations or tampering/removing of detector heads
5 Accidental activation of call point
0 Smoking incident (including Candles & incense sticks)
8 Contractors (dust or fumes from paint)
Cooking Related Incidents In LU Halls Of Residence:
Butler Court
Falkner / Eggington
Rutherford
UPP
Whitworth
2
0
1
6
0
Cayley
Faraday
Telford
University Lodge
10
2
5
0
David Collett
Royce
Towers
Village Court
(All above information gathered from period (1/05/13 –31/08/13) R M Harrison –Health& Safety Office
2
3
1
18