Fire safety

Emergency access routes

Emergency access routes must always be kept clear to ensure emergency vehicles can use them. Fire engines and ambulances must be able to get to their destinations without delay and without having to navigate obstacles.

Fire and carbon monoxide alarms

Common sense and the law both require residents to have a sufficient number of fire alarms fitted in their home, and to ensure that they are in good working order. The regulations state that there must be at least one fire alarm for every 60 square metres of the apartment. So in practical terms, a 61 square metre apartment must have at least two alarms.

In addition to fire alarms, homes should also be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide is an odourless, tasteless, colourless and poisonous gas that we as humans cannot detect. As carbon monoxide is only slightly lighter than air, special care should be taken over the positioning of the alarm, because carbon monoxide will not necessarily rise straight to the ceiling. A carbon monoxide detector is not a sufficient replacement for a fire alarm, but it is a worthwhile addition to improve safety in the home.

Without working batteries, both a fire alarm and carbon monoxide detector are useless. What’s more, they won’t last forever, and should be replaced at least once every ten years. It is always the resident’s obligation to ensure that the apartment has functional alarms and to replace the battery or entire device when necessary.

If the apartment has fire alarms wired into the electricity mains, the resident must check that the alarms work and submit a defect notification immediately if they find that an alarm no longer works.

Watch a video about fire safety

Naked flames/candles

Taking extra care when dealing with fire is the most important thing you can do to prevent a fire. For this reason, you should always keep an eye on any naked flames, making sure that candles are placed on a non-flammable surface and not left unattended. You must also make sure that pets or small children, for example, cannot accidentally knock over candles or tealights, and that the draught from a window cannot blow curtains into the flame.

Fire in any form is expressly prohibited on balconies. The only kind of barbecue permitted for use on a balcony is an electric one. Gas and electric barbecues may be used on terraces and in private yards. Always pay attention to fire safety on balconies, in private yards, on terraces and in the apartment itself, both when making food and when doing other things.

Using private saunas

If you have a private sauna in your apartment, please be aware that it must not be used for drying laundry or as storage space. Never turn on the sauna heater if there are any loose items in close proximity to it. Such items might include seat pads or towels.

Rescue plan

A rescue plan has been drawn up for each property, and the plans can be found on the page for each individual site .