Fire safety

Keep communal areas clear

To help everyone stay safe, please ensure that any communal areas remain completely free of personal belongings, including baby buggies, bicycles, or scooters. Clear access must be maintained at all times so that residents can exit quickly and emergency services can easily gain access to the building.

Communal fire doors

We undertake regular Fire Risk Assessments in our buildings. This includes inspections of communal fire doors which can contain fire and smoke for at least 30 minutes and help to prevent escalation. Any property opening onto a communal area must have a front door that’s fire-rated. For more information on fire doors see below.

Smoke and heat detectors

As a shared owner, it’s your responsibility to maintain all smoke and heat detectors and fire safety equipment in your property. Please contact us if you need advice or guidance.

Balconies

If you have a balcony, please don’t put up screens or fencing or store flammable items there, including furniture, appliances, or any combustible materials. Also, please remember that smoking on balconies can be dangerous and that barbecues are not allowed.

Front doors

If you live in a flat, please make sure your front door is fitted with a fully functioning self-closing device. If you notice any damage, or the door does not close properly, this must be fixed as soon as possible. Further information about fire doors is available below.

E-bike and e-scooter safety

Fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters are increasing. Please follow these important guidelines:

• Don’t store e-bikes or e-scooters near your front door or anywhere that could block an escape route.

• If possible, keep your e-bike or e-scooter in a shed or garage

• Ensure that both the battery and charger comply with UK safety standards. Purchase these only from reputable sellers and never modify the battery or charger. Always stick to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Disconnect the charger as soon as your e-bike or e-scooter is charged and don’t leave your charger plugged in overnight.

• Install a smoke alarm in the area where you charge your e-bike or e-scooter and test it regularly to make sure it’s working.

If you have any questions or concerns about fire safety in your Sparrow home please contact us.

What fire doors do

Fire doors are designed to prevent fire and smoke from spreading for at least 30 minutes. If your property opens onto a communal hall or space, you must have a fire-rated front door. This means that your door will act as a barrier if a fire starts inside your home, stopping smoke from spreading into communal areas and letting you leave the building safely in an emergency.

Fire doors must always remain closed and are only effective if they are installed correctly and kept in working order. They are fitted with self-closing mechanisms, so it’s essential that you never wedge them open or block them in any way.

Our responsibilities

• Inspect a sample of fire doors as part of our regular fire risk assessments.

• Conduct individual checks on each fire door at least once a year, for buildings that are five stories or 11 meters and above in height.

• Review all communal fire doors during estate visits, schedule maintenance, and respond to any reported issues.

• Maintain records of our fire doors and carry out any necessary repairs so they always meet safety requirements.

Your responsibilities

Please check your front door regularly for problems. If you notice any of the following, please ensure that it’s fixed as soon as possible:

• Damage to the door or its frame

• Issues with the self-closing mechanism (the door should close fully on its own, without you having to push it)

• Broken or cracked glass, if your door has glass panels

• A letter plate that’s damaged or missing

• Loose hinges or damaged/missing screws (there should always be at least three hinges)

• Handles that are loose or not working properly

• Seals around the door that are damaged, covered, or missing (these are essential to prevent smoke from spreading)

• A gap around the edges of the door wider than 4mm (for reference, a £1 coin is about 3mm thick)

• A gap at the bottom of the door that is more than 8mm wide

If you have any questions or issues relating to communal fire doors, please contact us.