Portfolio Story 2: Fire drills on Ffriddoedd Site "a form of torture"?

Something burning?

Students at Bangor University were appalled when fire alarms activated early in the morning on student campus Ffriddoedd Site.

                Ffriddoedd Site, Ffriddoedd Road, Bangor University. Image by Zoe Meredith.

Fire drill tests are compulsory on campus, where the alarm sounds for ten seconds to check if it is fully functional, and regular fire drill testing at early hours in the morning are essential for students to be aware of the necessary methods of evacuation.

Fire alarm tests also ensure that broken or defective alarms are repaired and/or replaced in order to ensure safety for the students in the building.

While this is all well and good, there is a general feeling of hostility among students regarding the times in which the fire alarm drills take place.

A student from Gwynant Halls, who wishes to remain anonymous, says “it’s necessary but it could be more effective.

The fire alarm drills, while I understand that students who have been clubbing won’t be home until around 3am, setting off the fire alarms at 5am is almost cruel. Perhaps 3.30 to 4am would be best…”

The students are warned of the fire alarm drills during Fresher’s Week and are also warned that if they do not evacuate the building in time, they will have to face another drill later on, perhaps the next day, the next week, or the next month.

"Like a form of torture"...

Former Gwynant occupant, Ben Hearn, 21, says “I remember the fire drills we had just after Fresher’s Week. Our flat saw the wardens gathering and assumed it would be our turn next, so we did what any normal people did….and stayed awake.

The problem with that though, was that we overslept the next day and a lot of students from my flat were late to lectures – if we even went in at all, sometimes we slept through our alarms!

I remember our flat was always on high alert because we didn’t get out in time once, and had to go through the whole ordeal again – it’s almost like a form of torture when you have no idea when it will go off”

Bangor University ensure that students are made aware of the fire safety procedures; explaining on student’s first day in Halls that University wardens and security officers will oversee evacuation procedures in the event of a fire drill, and testing the procedures accordingly with one unannounced fire drill at the beginning of the semester, and one drill at least each semester.

The students are also made aware of the area they are to evacuate to, and that, in the event of failing to evacuate the building in time, will have to repeat the procedure.

Fire drills are a necessity to ensure safety. Image by Zoe Meredith

Sensitivity...

Students from both past and present, however, have found that the fire alarms are causing more headaches.

Former Ffriddoedd Resident Lewis Chapman, 22, lived in Gwynant Hall for three years while completing his course at the University.

“I found the fire alarms were quite sensitive, I’ve set my own fire alarm off a few times because my shower was too hot and the steam escaped when I opened the door. I can tell you now, my flatmates weren’t happy at all with that!

The fire alarms also managed to activate because I was cooking pasta. I had the vent open so the steam wouldn’t occupy the entire room, but the fire alarm picked up on it.

I’m glad the alarm is the other side of the room from the toaster!” he laughs. 

Put up with it!

A student living in Idwal on Ffriddoedd Site campus, who wishes to remain anonymous, has expressed her own opinion.

“I really don’t see what all the fuss is about.

Yes, it’s scary when you’re woken up and you start shaking trying to put slippers on or a dressing gown on because it’s  cold outside in the early morning, but there’s plenty of time to do so and get out fast enough.

Fire drills are necessary for our own safety, I hear a lot of people complaining and I just think what might happen if we didn’t do the drill and there was a real fire – nobody would know what to do!

Luckily my flatmates in my building are pretty good and get out with plenty of time to spare, and the drills are never around exam time, so I'm afraid other students are going to just have to put up with it - they can always move out next year!”