in Multi-Storey Residential Buildings

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On average there are 10 fires every year in multi-storey residential buildings in Western Australia. Fires can result in serious injury or death for you, your family and your neighbours.

Always work with your building management or strata committee before undertaking maintenance to ensure you are aware of the installed fire safety systems and their requirements.

If you live in a multi-storey residential building, it is important that you know what to do to protect yourself and those around you in a fire emergency.

Every building is different depending on its age and construction. Be mindful that where installed, only working smoke alarms save lives. Your building management or strata committee should provide you with information in relation to any installed fire alarm system. You should make sure you know what to do if it is activated.

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Stay calm and get everyone out as quickly as possible. Remember, if there is smoke, crawl low along the ground to your exit.

Close all the windows and doors to stop smoke entering your apartment. Closing doors will also assist in restricting the spread of fire.

Call ‘000’ (triple zero) and tell the operator there is a fire in your building. Tell them your apartment number and that you are unable to get out safely. Follow the operator’s advice.

What to do in case of a fire

If it is unsafe to leave:

Respond immediately when alerted to a fire in your building. Evacuate immediately to your pre-planned safe meeting place or to the building’s ‘Assembly Area’.

Don’t waste time investigating what’s happened or trying to save valuables.

Always test doors before opening them. Use the back of your hand to touch the door and the doorknob. If the door feels hot, keep it closed and use a second exit if available.

What To Do

Don’t use lifts in a fire. Use emergency exits and fire stairs.

Get out, stay out and call ‘000’ (triple zero). Never go back inside.

What To Do

What To Do

Unsafe To Leave

Know Neighbours

What To Do

A fire can become fatal in less than three minutes.

Multi-storey fire safety tips:Know your building

Did you know?You should never use the lift if there is a fire in your building. Leave via the nearest exit stairwell and carefully make your way down to the ground floor. Beware of smoke and heat in the stairwell.

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Know Building

Know Building

Know Building

Know Building

Know your way out Get to know your emergency exits. The owner of your building is required to display a fire evacuation plan in common areas. This plan will show you where your ‘Assembly Area’ is located.

Make sure your exits are clearIt is important that stairs and fire escapes are free of obstacles at all times. Never store anything in corridors or in stairways.

Never prop open fire doors Fire doors stop the spread of smoke and fire and should never be wedged open.

Have an escape plan If a fire starts in your apartment or in your building, you will need to escape as quickly and safely as possible. Spend a few minutes talking to your family and neighbours about how you would escape if there was a fire. Practice your escape plan on a regular basis.

Did you know?Discarded cigarettes are a common cause of fires in multi-storey residential buildings. Remember to extinguish your cigarette completely in a deep ashtray.

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Know Building

Know Building

Check your homeReduce clutter on balconies and ensure BBQs and heaters are at least a metre away from all objects. Always turn BBQs and heaters off when they are unattended.

TIP: Reduce the size of gas bottles on BBQs and outdoor heaters from 9kg to 3.5kg to reduce the impact if there is a fire.

Check your smoke alarms Only working smoke alarms save lives. Make sure the smoke alarm inside your apartment is working properly and is regularly maintained and tested. There may also be fire alarms and sprinklers in common areas of your building, so make sure you know what to do if these are activated.

Getting to know your neighbours is an important part of your fire safety plan.

Help your neighbours get prepared for a fire by:

• Checking to see if they are aware of all the building exits

• Talking about what to do if their individual smoke alarm or the building fire alarm is activated

• Making sure they have an escape plan for their own premises and for the building

• Practising how you will all evacuate the building in an emergency

• Providing a list of up to date emergency contact numbers

• Working with the building management or strata committee to help with these actions.

Be aware of neighbours who may need help getting out in an emergency. If you cannot help them out, let the emergency services know where they are.

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Multi-storey fire safety tips:Know your neighbours

Unsafe To Leave

Know Neighbours

Unsafe To Leave

Know Neighbours

Unsafe To Leave

Know Neighbours

Knock on your neighbours’ doors. Try and visit everyone on your floor and if possible, people on other levels.

Introduce yourself to your neighbours and find out a little bit about them.

Leave your contact details with your neighbours in case of an emergency.

Government of Western AustraliaDepartment of Fire and Emergency ServicesT: +61 8 9395 9300 F: +61 8 9395 9384E: dfes@dfes.wa.gov.au W: http://www.dfes.wa.gov.auhttp://www.emergency.wa.gov.au

Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is provided voluntarily as a public service by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES). This publication has been prepared in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of publication. Nevertheless, the reliability and accuracy of the information cannot be guaranteed and DFES expressly disclaims liability or any act or omission done or not done in the reliance on the information and for any consequences whether direct or indirect, arising from such act or omission. The publication is intended to be a guide only and readers should obtain their own independent advice and make their own necessary inquiries.

FIRE SAFETY in Multi-Storey Residential Buildings

VERSION 1 NOVEMBER 2017