Fire Safety Plan

The aim of this plan is the provision and maintenance of a safe environment to all students, staff, Fellows, visitors and volunteers throughout Magdalene College to reduce the risk to life, injury, property and College loss. 

Fire Safety Strategy

Magdalene College is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of staff, visitors, students and College members against the risk of fire. It is the intention to meet this objective by:

• Providing fire protection measures according to the use of the building and activities taken therein.
• Fire risk assessments will be conducted at regular intervals for College properties and identify areas for improvement.
• Establish a programme of building works to improve or maintain the fire safety precautions.
• Keep fire safety plans under review for College property.
• Establish clear roles and responsibilities regarding the day to day fire safety management.
• Identify relevant personnel with the responsibility for initiating fire evacuation procedure and provide information to the emergency services.
• Carry out regular reviews of the fire risk assessment and action plan accordingly.

Fire Prevention Protocols

Magdalene College has established a set of protocols, policies and documentation that are relevant to fire safety within the College. Details below:

• Fire Risk Assessments (carried out by Oakleaf)
• Fire Management Plan
• Emergency Incident Plan (under review)
• Fire Alarm Activation Records
• Fire extinguisher records/maintenance of fire equipment
• Portable Appliance Testing Records
• Asbestos Register
• Local Emergency Plans
• Student Guides / Accommodation Handbook / College Policies and Procedures
• Fire Safety Training Records
• Accommodation Evacuation Plans

Person Specification

Responsible Person: The Senior Bursar, on behalf of the College Governing Body, is responsible for ensuring the implementation of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in all College premises and ensuring that all statutory requirements applicable to fire safety are observed. To ensure that appropriate fire safety policies and programmes of work are implemented to maintain and improve fire safety precautions in College premises. 

Appointed Fire Safety Officer: Head Porter

The Fire Safety Officer for the College will ensure compliance of current fire safety legislation.

Responsibilities including:

• Ensuring that all Fire Risk Assessments are conducted in line with legislation.
• Ensuring maintenance of fire safety systems to relevant British Standards.
• Receive reports for all fire incidents, inform the College of their contents and arrange for them to be acted upon as appropriate.
• To establish effective liaison with enforcing authorities as necessary.
• Assisting in the writing of all fire safety policies and procedures.
• To investigate all fires that occur in College properties.
• Disseminate responsibilities to College staff.

Deputy Fire Safety Officer: Deputy Head Porter

The Deputy Fire Safety Officer will assist with the duties described above.

The Health and Safety Committee

Fire safety forms part of the Health and Safety Committee which meets in the Michaelmas and Lent term and when necessary, in the Easter Term. The committee is chaired by the Assistant Bursar.

Head of Departments (HoDS)

Will be responsible for ensuring that the College fire management procedure is implemented in their respective areas. They will also assist the Fire Safety Officer as necessary.

Fire Porter

This position was created to assist the Head Porter and Deputy Head Porter in the administration of the fire extinguisher checks, fire alarm testing and fire evacuation drills.

Fire Risk Assessment

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, that came into force on 1st October 2006, they also must comply with the new fire safety legislation coming into effect in the UK in 2025 it introduces several important changes aimed at improving building safety. All responsible persons are required to carry out a fire risk assessment in relation to the risk from fire. A fire risk assessment is produced on behalf of the responsible person to assist them to comply with their legal obligations.

The Order replaces all previous fire safety legislation, and any Fire Certificates issued under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 will no longer be enforced. The Order applies in England and Wales. It covers general fire precautions and other fire safety duties that are needed to protect relevant persons in case of fire in and around the premises.

The Order requires fire precautions to be put in place where necessary and to the extent that it is reasonable and practicable in the circumstances of the case. Responsibility for complying with the Order rests with the responsible person. In a workplace, this is the employer and any other person who may have control of any part of the premises, e.g. the occupier or owner. In all other premises the person or people in control of the premises will be responsible.

If there is more than one responsible person in any type of premises, all must take reasonable steps to co-operate and co-ordinate with each other.

Electrical equipment

Electrical equipment provides a high risk in starting fires where they are faulty or used in inappropriate areas. Portable appliance testing (PAT testing) will be conducted for all portable equipment to ensure that basic electrical safety checks are maintained. This is to be managed by the maintenance department once a year.

The use of multi-socket plug adaptors, portable gas heaters, students own electrical heaters are not to be used anywhere on College premises. Extension leads are authorised for use where they have been subjected to portable appliance testing and where they are correctly used and fused.

No alterations and additions to wiring or fittings may be carried out apart from those carried out by authorised electricians from the Maintenance team or authorised contractors. Reporting of defective electrical equipment is essential for fire safety. Staff should report defective electrical equipment and are to remove them from supply by switching off and unplugging any portable electrical equipment that they find defective. Any issues should be reported to the Maintenance Department.

Maintenance of Fire precaution systems and processes

Emergency light testing Emergency light testing in accordance with legislation is the responsibility of the maintenance department. 

Fire emergency action plans and drills

All persons are expected to follow the below procedure in relation to fire safety. This is also documented in the Accommodation Handbook, Student Guide and Fire Management Procedure on the College Policies and Procedures webpage.

In case of a fire:

• Raise the alarm by pressing the fire alarm point.
• Do not stop to collect belongings.
• Evacuate the building immediately, closing any doors behind you.
• Proceed to the designated assembly point indicated on the fire safety notice at the entrance to each building.
• Remain at the assembly point until instructed.
• Please contact the Porters’ Lodge, telephone number 01223 332100.
• Do not re-enter the building for any reason until allowed to do so.

On hearing the fire alarm:

• Do not stop to collect belongings.
• Evacuate the building immediately, closing any doors behind you.
• Proceed to the designated assembly point indicated on the fire safety notice at the entrance to each building.
• Remain at the assembly point until instructed.
• Please contact the Porters’ Lodge, telephone number 01223 332100.
• Do not re-enter the building for any reason until allowed to do so.

A number of College properties are wired to the Porters Lodge main repeater fire panel. There are a number of College properties which are not wired to the Porters Lodge and rely on notification by the residents (this is currently being addressed so all fire alarms will report at the Porters Lodge. All fire alarm activations will be investigated by College staff.

There are many causes of fire alarm activations, but the more common ones include:

• Fumes from cooking or burnt food
• Mist from deodorant spray
• Steam from showers
• Dust from building work
• Poorly trained users
• Lack of maintenance
• Incorrect or poorly designed systems
• Student behaviour

Fire drills/Evacuations

The Fire Safety Officer is responsible for arranging fire drills throughout College accommodation and offices. All records of drills/evacuations are the responsibility of the Fire Safety Officer. Drills will be arranged for the Michaelmas and Lent Terms. Any re-testing will take place as and when required.

Fire Alarms

Fire alarms will be maintained and tested by an independent competent contractor to British Standards and the relevant legislation.

Weekly fire alarm testing in accordance with legislation will be conducted by College Staff, except during the exam period and recorded appropriately.

This will take place each week on the Wednesday. All departments are to be aware of the fire point test and inform staff and visitors as necessary.

If after 10 seconds, the alarms have not been cancelled departments must react to fire alarms as in a real fire situation. 

Maintenance of Fire Fighting Equipment

The Fire Safety Officer is responsible for ensuring that Fire Fighting Equipment (FFE) is provided and correctly positioned in College properties, including dealing with any fire risk in communal areas e.g. fire doors wedged open, candles. HoDs are expected to support the Fire Safety Officer with executing this responsibility.

Monthly records of FFE and locations are recorded and held electronically by the Deputy Fire Safety Officer.

Responsibility for the six monthly/annual servicing of the FFE and fire panels rests with the Fire Officer and Deputy Fire Officer and Fire Porter. Records are held online.

Fire Doors

Each building should be fitted with fire doors that are suitable and sufficient. These doors will be identified by signage.

Due to the listed status of some of the buildings, it is not possible to install fire doors that carry modern certification labels. However, all fire doors have been installed and maintained to meet the functional requirements of Approved Document B (Fire Safety) and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, as amended in 2025 Key measures in place include:

• Installation Standards: Fire doors have been constructed and installed to meet the performance standards equivalent to certified fire doors, including appropriate materials, intumescent strips, smoke seals, and self-closing devices.
• Regular Inspections: In accordance with the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, fire doors in communal areas are inspected quarterly, and flat entrance doors are checked annually by trained porters. Any defects are promptly addressed.
• Fire Alarm System: The building is equipped with an L1 fire detection and alarm system, providing the highest level of automatic fire detection coverage throughout all areas, including individual rooms and communal spaces.
• Risk-Based Approach: A fire risk assessment has been conducted, and the approach to fire door compliance has been reviewed and approved as part of the building’s overall fire safety strategy, considering the heritage constraints.

Emergency Signage

Fire escape signs are provided throughout College properties. Assembly points are annotated on all fire action signs in the accommodation. The fire risk assessment will confirm where additional signage is required.

Smoke Free Policy

Smoking and vaping are prohibited in all enclosed or substantially enclosed College premises. This includes company vehicles. Please see the College Smoke Free Policy.