Safety and security
For non-emergencies, dial 101.
To contact the University security team, Estate Patrol, call 01392 723999. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Estate Patrol are also able to provide First Aid.
Exeter’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) service is located in the RD&E Hospital (Wonford) on Barrack Road and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Exeter Police Enquiry Office is located on the outskirts of Exeter on Sidmouth Road, EX2 7RY.
This Emergency leaflet has information about the University's emergency procedures.
Estate Patrol
The University has its own campus security team, Estate Patrol. They are a friendly team of officers who provide 24/7 security and safeguarding services across our campuses and aim to provide a safe, secure and welcoming environment for all.
When residence receptions are closed, they can help with issues such as arranging for emergency repairs or helping you to access your room if you're locked out. They are also available during the night if you feel like talking to somebody or need first aid.
To contact Estate Patrol, call 01392 729999.
*Campus Security can only provide out of hours maintenance support to University of Exeter owned/managed residences.
Campus safety
- SafeZone App - Our free app-based system for students and staff connects you to the Estate Patrol team round-the-clock, allowing you to alert Estate Patrol if you need advice or urgent help when on campus.
- Safer Walking Routes - These dedicated walkways have enhanced lighting along with coverage by the University CCTV cameras along many paths. Keep a look out for the routes marked with green spots on the floor and signs on lampposts.
- Campus Safety Guide - This provides information not only on campus safety, but also tips to consider when you are out and about, personal safety and securing your property.
- If you need to report an incident or raise a health and safety issue then please complete the online University Incident Report Form (HSI01).
Building safety
To ensure safety within our Residences, you are required by law not to do anything that:
Creates a risk to your building’s structural safety
Causing or spreads fire, including damaging or removing any of your building’s fire safety measures, such as smoke detectors, fire alarms, fire doors, and fire extinguishers.
You must also comply with the University and partner requests for information needed to assess and manage building safety risks.
Regular Safety Inspections
Building faciities which have regular safety inspections and testing include:
- Gas appliance servicing and inspections
- Emergency lighting checks
- Water hygiene inspections (eg Shower head cleans, water outlet temperature),
- Asbestos checks (where present)
- Portable Appliance Testing
- Lightning protection servicing
- Lift servicing and inspections
- Fall arrest system inspections
Residents may be asked to provide access to their flat/rooms for these inspections and safety-related maintenance to take place. Notice of these will be given with the aim of avoiding critical times of the year such as during exams.
Road safety
Although students aren’t permitted to park on campus, there is still traffic, so please be aware of vehicles as you walk around campus and keep to the pavement where possible. Visit the THINK! website for more information on road safety.
Snow and Ice
The University grounds staff work to ensure that paths are cleared from the effects of ice, snow, leaves and algae.
Students are advised to take extra care when the weather is bad, and any residents with mobility issues who may need extra help during such conditions should contact their reception.
During adverse weather conditions, the University will send communications to advise on any changes to services. You can also check the Severe Weather webpage. For residence specific information please contact your main residence reception.
Fire safety
We take fire safety seriously – fire can spread in seconds and is a potential killer. All our accommodation has fire safety equipment, including alarm systems, fire doors and fire extinguishers, which we maintain and test regularly.
You also have a major part to play in keeping your residence safe from fire. There are certain items you are contractually obliged not to use in your accommodation, such as candles and incense, deep fat fryers or chip pans and portable heaters.
If we believe that something in your room is a fire hazard, we will ask you to remove it. If you don’t, we’ll remove it for you.
Please refer to our Fire Safety video and Fire Prevention Poster for more information and ways you can help.
In the event of a fire, please:
- Sound the alarm
- Evacuate the building
- Call the Fire Brigade on 999 from the nearest safe telephone and give the address, including the postcode
- Notify Estate Patrol on their emergency number 01392 722222
Help prevent accidental fire alarms by:
- Keeping fire doors shut and turning the extractor fan on when you shower
- Opening the windows and using the extractor fan when cooking
- Using hairdryers, hair straighteners, aerosol sprays (e.g. deodorant, hairspray, etc.) and talcum powder well away from smoke detectors
If you think you’ve accidentally set off the fire alarm, you must evacuate the building in the normal way as you don't know what might be happening elsewhere in the building. However, please immediately tell a member of staff that this may be a false alarm.
Our local fire service, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, also have lots of helpful information on their website about staying safe at home. Find out more here:
To help prevent fires from occurring:
- Keep fire doors closed and free from obstructions which would prevent them from closing.
- Do not tamper with or damage fire doors or self-closing devices.
- Report any faults or damage to fire doors as soon as possible by contacting your Residence Reception or on the Home at Halls app.
Where needed and if you feel able to, remind others of their responsibility to keep residences safe from fire, or report any concerns about the behaviour of others with regards to building safety by contacting careteam@exeter.ac.uk.
- There are fire alarm systems in every building in bedrooms, kitchens, and communal areas, which are either smoke, heat or both.
- When a sensor is activated, this activates the fire alarm
- Red manual call points are located next to each exit.
Buildings are ‘compartmented’ - built to contain a fire within a single room or multiple rooms for a limited amount of time e.g., 30 or 60 minutes. This limits the spread of fire and smoke, giving time for residents to safely evacuate the building to the evacuation point.
There are various devices in residences that are designed to extinguish or slow the spread of fire and remove smoke from the building, including:
- Fire blankets
- Fire doors
- Automatic opening vents
- Fire dampers
- Dry/wet risers
- Fire extinguishers
We undertake regular preventative measures, including:
- Conducting fire risk assessments
- Checking and servicing fire prevention, detection, management and escape equipment
- Checking and servicing items which could cause a fire (such as electrical equipment)
- Fire drills twice a year for residents
- Working with the local fire and rescue service to share important information about the building
- Staff training
