Student Accommodation Handbook

CHRIST'S COLLEGE ACCOMMMODATION HANDBOOK

APPENDIX 3

HEALTH and SAFETY at WORK REGULATIONS and COLLEGE RULES RELATING TO MAINS ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES

INVENTORY OF PORTABLE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BROUGHT INTO COLLEGE

Current legislation makes it illegal for any student to bring into College or residences any portable electrical appliance that does not conform to BS 2754/BEAB Safety Standards. In practical terms, this means that all appliances must have an appropriate plug; a fuse to match the rating of the appliance; a damage-free electrical lead, and no loose connections. From time to time, the College is required by the Health & Safety Executive to produce evidence that safety standards are being maintained.

The College has, therefore, to ask that you provide a list of all portable electrical appliances that you have brought into College or residences. If additional apparatus is brought into College, subsequent to return of the form, it will be necessary to submit a revised list. Printers, speakers, scanners, external hard drives and other system-peripherals do not need to be listed separately but should all comply with BS 2754/BEAB standards.

By signing the form, you acknowledge that all appliances owned by you or used by you in the College or residences do meet the appropriate regulations. The form should be returned by 31st October.

The use of any cooking appliance, including toasters, in study bedrooms is strictly forbidden. Only a kettle or coffee maker may be used in bedrooms. All other cooking appliances must only be used in the catering area of your College accommodation and are not permitted in individual rooms. Cooking equipment places excessive loads on the electrical system and creates a fire hazard. Fire extinguishers must be provided and other fire precautions taken wherever cooking takes place and study bedrooms are not so equipped. Televisions and room heaters are not allowed in individual study bedrooms. No individual electrical items rated above 1.5kW (1500W) are permitted.

Refrigerators, other than ‘mini-refrigerators’ are not permitted in study bedrooms except in the case of medical or special dietary requirements. Tutorial permission should be sought if you need a refrigerator for these reasons. Mini fridges only cool to a specific number of degrees below ambient temperature, according to their specification, rather than cooling down to a specific temperature. Mini-fridges may, therefore, only be used for storing cold drinks. They must not be used for storing dairy products, raw or cooked meat, or meat products (such as pies, pasties or ready meals), as they often do not achieve sufficiently low temperatures (6oC or less) to store these items safely.

In certain older parts of the College some further restrictions on possession and use of electrical equipment may be necessary because of these electrical loading limits. Printers, speakers, scanners, external hard drives and other system-peripherals do not need to be listed separately but should all comply with BS 2754/BEAB standards.

A copy of the inventory form can be downloaded [HERE]

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