Fire Safety Policy
Updated September 2026
Scope
This policy outlines The Drayton Centre’s commitment to fire safety. This policy applies to all individuals working on behalf of The Drayton Centre, including trustees, staff, and volunteers, as well as all hall hirers.
Fire safety is essential to all trustees, employees, volunteers and customers of The Drayton Centre. This policy references exits plans, equipment, maintenance, drills, testing and training.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish a framework for identifying, assessing, maintaining, and managing risks associated with fire safety and to ensure everyone is aware of incident response procedures and reporting and review mechanisms.
Smoking and Vaping
Smoking and vaping are strictly prohibited in the centre.
Fire Safety and Evacuation Plans
The following fire evacuation procedure should be implemented in these premises
On discovery of a fire, raising the alarm or hearing an alarm:
- Raise the alarm by shouting FIRE FIRE FIRE and operate the nearest fire alarm call point
- All persons should evacuate the building and assemble at the rear of the building
- Call the fire and rescue service using 999
- Persons should be accounted for
- The fire and rescue service should be met on arrival and details given
- No persons should re-enter the building until safe to do so
People with Mobility Needs
The Drayton Centre makes all user aware that the meeting room cannot presently accommodate wheelchair users as the fire escape is only accessed by stairs.
Fire Detection and Warning Systems
The Drayton Centre has a fire detection and warning system. These detectors cover all areas of the building and are tailored to the area they cover. Smoke detectors are present in the halls, meeting room, office and entrance. There are heat detectors in both kitchens.
If the alarm is activated, a check of the control panel will indicate the zone that has been activated.
Emergency lighting is present around the interior and exterior of the building and is activated in the event of a power failure.
Firefighting Equipment
The Drayton Centre has a range of firefighting equipment. This equipment has been properly installed, tested and maintained.
Office – CO2 extinguisher
Front hall – CO2 extinguisher, 2 water extinguishers
Front hall kitchen – CO2 extinguisher, fire blanket
Rear hall – CO2 extinguisher, foam extinguisher
Rear hall kitchen – fire blanket
Meeting room – CO2 extinguisher, water extinguisher
If the alarm is activated, the Drayton Centre users must evacuate the building, ring 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service.
Fire Maintenance and Testing
The Drayton Centre Manager carries out regular checks to make sure that:
- all fire alarm systems are working
- the emergency lighting is working
- any faults in systems and equipment are recorded and reported
- all escape routes are clear, and the floor is in good condition
- all fire escapes can be opened easily
- automatic fire doors close correctly
- fire exit signs are in the right place
Testing is carried out as follows and logged in the fire log book:
Weekly
- Fire alarm test
- Automatic fire door test
Monthly
- Visual check of all fire extinguishers
- Disable toilet alarm pulls test
- Carbon monoxide alarm test
- Emergency lighting check
6-monthly
- Fire alarm test and emergency lighting test by external contractor
Annually
- PAT testing and EET testing of equipment
- Fire risk assessment by external contractor
Every 5 years
- EICR certification
Fire Drills
The Drayton Centre carries out at least one fire drill per year and records the results. The results are recorded as part of the fire log book.
Activation of Fire Alarms
The Drayton Centre accepts that on rare occasions the fire alarm may go off accidentally or when there is no need to call the fire service. In this instance if this is when the Centre Manager is about, then the alarm will be reset.
The company that monitors the fire alarm has a list of Trustee numbers to call should the system be activated. The duty mobile will always be the first number called.
Should the alarm be accidentally activated, all Trustees have been instructed on how to disable the alarm, both with the code as displayed on the unit and with the override key which is stored in the office.
Solar Panels
The Drayton Centre has solar panels located on the southern end of the roof. The isolation switches and battery, are located in the office at the front of the building.
Further Information for Hirers
Additional information can be found in the Safety Requirements section of the Terms and Conditions of Hire.