FIRE officers are warning students that propping or wedging internal doors open could not only endanger their lives, but the lives of fellow students if a fire were to break out in a building.
The warning – particularly relevant locally because of the Warrington Campus of the University of Chester – comes in the run-up to the Christmas party season and after Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service was made aware of a marketing campaign targeting students, that gave away a free door wedge with multipacks of a well known alcoholic drink as a promotion.
Landlords are also being reminded that they have a responsibility under the Regulatory Reform (fire safety) Order 2005 (the order) to ensure the safety of people living in student accommodation.
The promotion encourages students to wedge open doors within their accommodation as a way to “enhance the student experience”.
Simon Gibbins, Head of Protection at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We would like to firmly advise students not to prop open doors when having Christmas parties.
“Fire doors save lives but only when they are closed. They are designed to stop a fire from spreading in complexes such as student accommodation, where there are multiple people living in a building.
“It’s crucial that students and landlords are aware of the dangers of using door wedges on any internal doors. My advice to students would be to act now and save the lives of your fellow house mates by throwing any door wedges you have away.”
Students warned over “open door” parties
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