What to do in a fire emergency

See the City of London Fire Safety Advice page. 

The advice from the Fire Brigade is as follows:-

The Barbican has been built to protect residents in the event of a fire, so do not automatically assume you must leave your flat. The emergency services will decide whether the building needs to be evacuated. If it does, use your front door and stairs unless the fire/smoke prevents this, in which case use your balcony.

Basic Advice

Familiarise yourself with the escape route from your flat before an emergency. For most flats this is using a staircase (NEVER A LIFT) or your balcony.

Keep all emergency access routes clear: your life or those of your family or neighbours could be endangered if you do not. Large plants or furniture should not be stored on balconies for this reason.

If the fire is in your flat:

• Do not stay to fight a fire unless you can extinguish it immediately. 
• Evacuate everyone in the flat. 
• Close all doors behind you. 
• Call the Fire Brigade.
• Call your Lobby Porter/Car Park Attendant.

If you detect a fire in another part of your building:

• Stay in your home unless evacuated by emergency services. 
• Call the Fire Brigade, do not tackle the fire yourself.
• Close all doors and windows to restrict the spread of smoke. 
• If you become affected by the heat or smoke, leave the flat, as described above.

There have been very few fires on the Barbican Estate. Most have started in kitchens so residents may wish to keep a kitchen extinguisher or fire blanket nearby.

The London Fire Brigade will carry out a fire safety check, see contact list.

If in doubt, ask the BEO.

General Advice for Fire Prevention

• It is worthwhile investing in a smoke alarm. The battery should be renewed each year to ensure the alarm is working effectively.
• Avoid calor gas, paraffin or electric bar fires wherever possible. Instead use plug in radiators with safety electric plugs.
• Do not block access points in your flat or the communal areas of your block. 
• Do not use rooms for storage or as workshops. 
• Do not overload electrical sockets, cover convector heaters or leave lit candles and heaters close to curtains and furniture.
• Ensure electrical equipment is regularly serviced.

The car park attendants all have details about the emergency service access points.

There are no smoke alarms in the communal corridors.  Building Regs at the time would probably not have enforced this.

Residents are advised to install their own smoke alarms and test this regularly. BEO install smoke alarms for City of London tenants, and we renew the batteries regularly.