How can I reduce false fire alarms in my accommodation?

When the fire alarm sounds you must always leave the building. However, there are things you can do to reduce the inconvenience of false alarms.

To avoid false alarms:

• never leave cooking unattended, use the kitchen extractor fan, and never wedge open the kitchen door.

• keep the door closed when using the shower and ventilate the room properly after use.

• do not use hair straighteners or hair dryers directly under smoke detectors, as heat or steam can activate them.

• do not use aerosols (such as sprays and deodorants) near smoke detectors. Always use well away from the detector as they are very sensitive.

Remember, you must never cover a detector as a way to reduce false alarms. This is extremely dangerous and places lives at risk in the event of a fire.