Fire Safety

Fire detection is installed throughout all Blackfriars Hall buildings.  In 33 St Giles, this is monitored 24 hours a day by Oxford University Security Services.

DIAL 999

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If you are aware that there is a fire within the building, you should contact the Fire and Rescue Service by ringing 999 or 112 from outside the building and advising them that there is a confirmed fire at the property.

Fire safety advice

Please familiarise yourself with the layout of the buildings and the various fire safety measures installed there including:

• Fire doors (which should be kept closed).
• Fire information notices (available on each floor within the building).
• Fire extinguishers (installed in each corridor).
• The location of the various emergency call points (red boxes on the walls) which will activate the alarm if the glass is broken.

Please be considerate of both your safety and that of others within the building:

• Ensure that all fire doors and those fitted with closure devices are kept closed.
• Ensure that extraction systems are switched on when using kitchen and bathroom facilities (to reduce the risk of false alarm activation).
• Ensure that cooking appliances are only used within designated kitchen.
• Ensure that neither you nor your guests smoke or use candles, joss sticks, oil burners or similar items within the building.
• Aerosol sprays are used with caution (the system does not detect any difference between smoke and fine mist/spray).
• The student also agrees to ensure the room is safe for college employees to enter. This includes making sure floor areas are clear from hazards such as electric cables, shoes and clothing.

When a fire alarm is activated

In the event of a fire alarm being activated (other than for testing purposes), you must immediately vacate the building and assemble at the front of the building or the point mentioned on the blue and white signs near alarm panels and break glasses.

Even if you’re not aware of a fire within the building, please leave immediately when the alarm goes off and assemble outside the building and wait for Blackfriars staff or University Security Services to arrive.

Please do not leave the area as the Fire and Rescue Service or Lodge staff may wish to speak to residents when they arrive.

Please note that once the alarm has been activated you must not re-enter the building unless told to do so by either the Fire and Rescue Service or Lodge staff; although the alarm has been silenced, it may not be safe for you to return inside.

All residents should be aware that failure to evacuate the building or to disregard instructions of either the Fire and Rescue Service or Lodge staff will be viewed as a disciplinary offence which will be referred to the Senior Dean.

All residents should also be aware that the Fire and Rescue Service in Oxford may charge for unnecessary call-outs.

All residents are advised that they can contact the Blackfriars Emergency Telephone or Oxford University Security Services – +44(0)1865 2 89999 (24 hours)-  in the event of a fire or similar emergency on site, or the Bursar off-site as they will be able to provide most immediate support if required.

Fire alarm testing

The fire alarm, emergency light installations and fire extinguishers will be tested on a weekly basis. All residents will be warned in advance of any testing.

Fire drills

It is a legal requirement that Blackfriars carries out regular fire drills across all student accommodation buildings. In residential accommodation these are carried out once per term by the Bursary staff in conjunction with the Junior Deans. In order for the drill to be recorded as successful, all residents and their guests must vacate the building within three minutes of the alarm sounding. Failure to do this, even if only by one person, will result in the drill being repeated later in the term.

All residents are responsible for ensuring that fire exit doors, exit routes, corridors, landings and staircases (Common Facilities in your licence agreement) are kept free of any debris, personal belongings and any other item which might restrict people exiting the building in an emergency.

Items found obstructing such locations will be removed without notice, a receipt issued if the owner is known and the item returned to the tenant at the end of their licence.

Kitchen safety

• Ensure that all fire doors and those fitted with closure devices are kept closed.
• Ensure that extraction systems are switched on when using kitchen facilities (to reduce the risk of false alarm activation).
• Ensure that cooking appliances are only used within designated kitchens.
• The use of toasters is prohibited in all parts of the college except communal kitchens.
• Ensure that items are not left unattended when cooking in the kitchens.
• Ensure that any cooking appliances provided by the college are used correctly and the instruction guidebooks are followed.
• Kettles provided should only be used to boil cold water.
• Care should be taken to ensure that kettles contain sufficient water when in use to ensure that they do not boil dry and become a possible fire hazard.
• Care should be taken to ensure that rice cookers contain sufficient water when in use to ensure that they do not boil dry and become a possible fire hazard.
• Care should be taken  to ensure that microwave ovens are not operated when empty (this will damage the cooking element within the oven and increase the risk of fire and other damage to the oven). The instruction book provided with the oven should be read and followed at all times. If you have any queries, please contact the Accommodation Office.
• Do not pour cooking oil or fats down the sink. These should be poured into a bottle and put into food waste caddies.

Blackfriars Hall electrical regulations

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You have a responsibility to yourselves and others to use electrical appliances safely.

Please read the following information carefully and follow the advice throughout your stay. Under the Electricity at Work Regulations Act 1989, there is an obligation at Blackfriars to control all electrical appliances connected to its electrical system. These regulations apply to all residential and office accommodation.

The electricity supply is 230 / 240 volts, 50Hz.

Appliances used in the UK must carry the appropriate British Standard number, Kite mark and/or CE European mark. Please view further information here.

You may need a transformer to step down the UK voltage to your international appliance. It is recommended that you use equipment with UK plugs rather than using foreign adapters. The plug must be the safety sleeve type and carry BS number 1363. Plugs must be fitted with a 13-amp fuse, maximum.

• Low power appliances below 750 watts (i.e. radios, lamps, stereos etc.) should be fitted with a 3-amp fuse.
• Manufacturers’ instructions regarding fuse size should be adhered to where appropriate.
• Outer sheaths of cables must be kept in good condition and not worn, perished, split, stretched or twisted.
• Cables must be securely fixed into plugs and appliances.
• It is strictly forbidden to interfere with electrical fittings or with plugs and cables connected to electrical equipment provided by the college. Any defects in college equipment should be reported immediately to the Bursary (bursary@bfriars.ox.ac.uk). It is forbidden to connect any appliances to a lighting circuit.

The use of two- or three-way (cube) adapters in a socket outlet is not permitted under any circumstances. Short, multi-plug trailing sockets fitted with an appropriate fuse may be used.

Residents are required by law to obtain a current license for private televisions.

Electrical appliances should not be left plugged into the wall with the power turned on when they are not in use – this particularly applies to phone and IT chargers which can become very hot when not in use.

Maintenance and cleaning staff are instructed to report equipment that appears to be non-compliant with the regulations. Equipment found to be non-compliant will be removed by Blackfriars, a receipt issued and the item will be returned to the tenant at the end of the licence. The Hall’s decision on the use of any appliance is final.   We reserve the right to amend these guidelines and regulations at any time without further notice.

Items that cannot be brought onto Blackfriars Hall residential property

• Refrigerators* / microwave ovens / toasters  / sandwich toasters / deep fat fryers / chip pans / rice cookers / slow cookers / toaters and other cooking appliances (except in designated kitchen areas).
• Electric fires / heaters.
• Electric blankets (hot water bottles are acceptable).
• Fairy lights with filament bulbs (LED bulbs are allowed).
• Candles, oil burners, joss sticks or other naked flames.
• Sunbeds.
• Bicycles (these must be stored outside).
• Pets.
• Fireworks.
• Highly flammable liquids and sprays.
• Private furniture**.
• Two- or three-way multi-way cube adapters and DIY sockets.

*The only exception to this statement relates to students who require refrigerated storage for medication, or refrigerators issued by Blackfriars.

**Blackfriars Hall furniture is built to high standards of fire resistance but other furniture you may acquire may not be; we do not permit our residents to remove furniture from their accommodation without the express permission of the Bursar.

*/**Such cases will be dealt with on an individual basis by the Bursar, to whom requests should be made in writing.

Those in doubt about a particular piece of equipment should contact the Hall Bursary (bursary@bfriars.ox.ac.uk)