Fire Safety

Shut off any machinery. - Immediately leave via the most appropriate route - do not stop to collect belongings. - Warn others as you leave. - Meet on the other side of Queen Victoria Street. - Once outside, telephone the fire service if it is not a false alarm. Our alarm is not automatically linked to them.

The fire escape route from upstairs is via the main staircase and front door.

The fire escape routes from downstairs is either via the front door, or via the woodshop emergency door.

Red Break-glasses which sound the fire alarm are located around the space, including:

• Beside the front door, at the bottom of the stairs
• Beside the fire escape in the wood shop
• In the laser room
• At the top of the stairs
• In the textiles room
• In the upstairs workshop

If the fire alarm is sounding and you know it to be a false alarm, you can reset it using the control panel. The control panel is located in the cupboard under the stairs.

To reset the alarm:

1. Locate the red plastic key stored on top of alarm panel, insert it into the panel, and turn
2. Press the red button labelled “1”
3. Press the green button labelled “2”
4. Remove the key and put it back on top of the panel

The alarm system covers the whole of Hackspace in a single zone (Zone 2 on the alarm panel), so don't reset it just because the room you're using isn't on fire. Ensure the whole building is not on fire before resetting the alarm!

The front door and some internal doors are normally opened using electronic switches. If these fail to release the door during an emergency, you can disable the door locking system by pressing the green break-glass next to the door. Pressing a green break-glass will not set off the building's fire alarm.

Only use a fire extinguisher to tackle a fire if you feel confident in doing so.

There are fire extinguishers in the following locations:

• Upstairs corridor
• Welding area
• Laser Room
• Woodshop
• Beside the front door.

Our insurance does not currently permit any hotworks at Hackspace except welding and grinding. There are no permitted activities involving open flames.

Welding and griding must use Hackspace's equipment (not your own), and must take place in the designated areas.