Fire safety information
Important information about protecting your home from fire and what to do in the event of an emergency.
What should I do if there is a fire?
- Alert everyone in your home that there is an emergency. Leave quickly, closing your doors behind you. Follow your evacuation plan.
- If there is smoke, crawl along the floor, where the air will be clearer.
- Once you’re safely outside, phone 999 for the fire brigade.
Keeping you safe: fire doors and exits
- Closed fire doors prevent the spread of fire and give people time to escape.
- The front door to your flat, bedroom doors in shared flats and some other doors such as your kitchen door, including the door closer, is designed to hold back the spread of fire for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- Fire doors must not be propped open.
- Self-closing devices on doors help ensure that doors close on their own. They should not be tampered with.
- Please report any doors that are broken as soon as you notice them.
- Ensure fire exits are free from obstructions; do not leave objects on stairs or hallways.
Keeping you safe: fire alarms
- A working fire alarm could save you in a fire
- Do test your alarms every month
- Do report a faulty fire alarm
- Do not cover smoke/heat detectors or disconnect them
Things you can do to keep safe:
- Faulty electrics are a common cause of fire.
- Do not use electrical equipment with frayed wiring
- It is safer to smoke outdoors. If smoking indoors, always use an ashtray and put the cigarette fully out.
- Do not use candles.
- Do not put water if cooking fat
Charging devices, electric scooters/bikes and other items with lithium batteries
Lithium batteries, particularly those on electric bikes or scooters are now recognised as a serious fire hazard.
Electric bikes/scooters must not be stored in a means of escape or in common parts. Any electric bikes/scooters stored in common parts will be removed from the property without notice.
Advice on reducing the risk of fire from e-bikes/e-scooters:
- Never leave them charging whilst you sleep
- Use the correct charger for your battery and the correct battery for your device / e-bike
- If the battery over-heats during charging, replace it
- Unplug your charger once the battery has charged
The warning signs your e-bike or e-bike battery is a fire hazard:
- Heat: It’s normal for batteries to generate some heat when charging or in use. However if your device’s battery feels extremely hot to the touch, there’s chance it’s defective and may start a fire
- Bulging: A battery bulging or swelling out of shape is a common sign of it failing. If your battery looks swollen, you should stop using it immediately. Similar signs include any type of lump or leaking from the device
- Noise: Failing lithium batteries have also been reported to make hissing or cracking sounds
- Smell: If you notice a strong or unusual smell coming from the battery, this could also be a sign of it failing
- Performance: A failure to fully charge or longer charge times can be a sign that your battery is failing
- Smoke: If your battery or device is smoking, a fire has already started
Disposing of a lithium battery
Lithium batteries should not be placed in the same bins as your regular rubbish or recycling. If they overheat, they may cause it to catch fire. Instead check your local authority's website for the safe way to dispose of lithium batteries in your area.
Alternatively, you can search for your nearest place to recycle on the North London Waste Authority website.