User Manual

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3.2.1 Student accommodation
Purpose built (or converted) accommodation for university and college students frequently consists of a number of
self-contained community units. Each of these units is made up of a small number of bedrooms with either
ensuite or shared bathroom facilities, together with a large communal kitchen/lounge area.
Fire service statistics show a high number of fire brigade call-outs to student accommodation and that the great
majority of these fire alarm incidents are found to be false alarms. This is not only a significant cost factor; frequent
false alarms also lead inevitably to a feeling of complacency among the residents and a reluctance to evacuate the
building every time a fire alarm is activated.
The use of correctly positioned multi-criteria fire detectors with the appropriate behavior settings, paired with strict
enforcement of house fire safety regulations can practically eliminate false alarms.
More detailed information can be found in the application guide: “Fire protection in student accommodation”.