Building safety resident engagement strategy

Building Safety Act 2022

The Building Safety Act 2022 is legislation in England and Wales that plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of residential buildings. In line with the recent introduction of the law, we’re required to keep comprehensive documentation of how our buildings are designed, built, maintained, and changed.

There are additional regulations for tall residential buildings, which include those exceeding 18 metres in height or comprising seven or more floors. Not all of our student accommodation buildings fall into this category, but some of them do.

As part of the requirements under the Building Safety Act 2022, Southampton Solent University acts as the Principal Accountable Person (PAP) who is responsible for ensuring compliance with residential building safety regulations.

A key part of the Building Safety Act is establishing a Resident Engagement Strategy. This strategy, as outlined below, sets out how we will inform residents about building safety decisions and any necessary building work, plus how we will engage with you to ensure your voice is heard before we make any changes.

Resident engagement strategy

Your safety while living with us in student residences is our top priority. We are dedicated to keeping you informed about any building safety decision involving our student residences. The type of building safety decisions which residents may be consulted on are decisions relating to:

• any planned major maintenance works,
• any planned major refurbishment works,
• any planned changes to fire safety infrastructure and equipment, and
• any planned changes to security of the buildings.

The resident engagement strategy is formed of three key elements:

• Engage with residents while living within our accommodation.
• Keep residents informed of any relevant building safety decision updates or works taking place.
• Empower residents to share their queries or concerns.

Responsibilities

Residences building safety is on all of us. Below, you'll find what we all need to do to maintain the safety of our residential buildings.

Our responsibilities

• We will promptly notify you of any issues regarding the property’s structure, electrical components, or safety systems.
• We will outline the measures taken to ensure your safety during any repair process.
• We will provide you with information on fire safety and prevention.
• We will conduct regular assessments of fire risk.
• We will regularly test and assess our safety systems, including smoke detectors, fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire doors, and evacuation routes.
• We will mitigate risks during the maintenance of safety systems.
• We will perform regular patrols to ensure escape routes are kept clear and hazardous items in communal areas are promptly removed.
• We will ensure emergency exit routes will be clearly identified, and an evacuation plan will be clearly communicated to all residents.

Your responsibilities

As a resident living in Southampton Solent University accommodation, you must:

• Complete the pre move in online safety induction.
• View the appropriate fire safety Video
• Read safety materials about your halls (contained within the residents' handbook)
• Attend welcome talks from Residence staff.
• Understand the evacuation procedures and ensure any guests know the protocols.
• Keep all fire doors shut.
• Do not tamper with any safety equipment.
• Use appliances appropriately and as intended.
• Report any faults or concerns with equipment or facilities.
• Tell us about any building safety concerns you have.

Residential buildings - fire safety

As part of the overarching fire safety strategy for our residences, students in residence are invited to engage with the residences team with regard to the effective fire safety measures in place for the building.

These safety measures include:

• Guidance on general fire safety.
• Raising the alarm on discovery of a fire.
• Fire doors.
• Evacuation procedures.
• Use of fire fighting equipment (such as fire blankets and extinguishers).

Information on these measures can be found as part of the student induction, which residents must undertake prior to moving into the residence, and in the student residence handbook.

Fire emergency drills will take place at the start of term and where is is deemed necessary throughout the academic year. Residents should familiarise themselves with the fire safety measures in place.

Fire doors

Fire doors, including study bedroom doors, are an integral part of the building fire safety measures. These should not be interfered with or altered in any way. Any maintenance issues with regard to any fire door must be reported by residents via the Planon maintenance reporting app or in person at the ResHub.

Fire action notices

Fire action notices are in place on the back of each study bedroom door advising on actions to take in the event of a fire alarm activation within the residence. Residents should familiarise themselves with the quickest evacuation route from their study bedroom, as indicated on the fire action notice.

Fire safety feedback

The residence team encourages feedback from and consultation with residents on any of the fire safety measures currently in place at any time. All feedback will be reviewed and acted upon accordingly. All residents will be informed of any changes to fire safety measures via email and noticeboards.

Any actions taken as a result will also be included in an annual review of fire safety procedures prior to the start of each move-in period at the start of the academic year.

You can provide feedback on fire safety and any other building safety decisions for any residence by contacting a member of the residence team in person at the ResHub based in David Moxon building, or by phone or email at:

Email: reshub@solent.ac.uk
Tel: 023 8033 5347
Mobile: 07778 345113

The ResHub is manned 24/7 by residence staff seven days a week, between 8.30am and 10.30pm, and the overnight team between 10.30pm and 8.30am.