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 will be 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. The appropriate form can be found HERE. By signing this 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 THE END OF OCTOBER.
If additional apparatus is brought into College, subsequent to return of the form, it will be necessary to submit a revised list. Your attention is drawn to the fact that the use of many items of electrical equipment in College, including cooking appliances and heaters, requires tutorial permission. Special permission is not, however, required for radios, stereos, hair dryers, clocks, computer equipment, typewriters, kettles/coffee makers and toasters; all these must, however, still meet the safety regulations and be listed below. Televisions are not allowed in individual study bedrooms. No individual electrical items rated above 1.5kW (1500W) are permitted.
The use of cooking equipment, other than a kettle or coffee maker and a toaster, in individual rooms is not permitted as 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. Refrigerators, other than ‘mini-refrigerators’ (see footnote 2 overleaf), or freezers 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.
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.
If you are in any doubt as to whether any appliance you own meets the necessary regulations, the appliance must be tested by the Maintenance Department staff. You should contact either the Maintenance Manager or his Assistant, via the Porters’ Lodge, and they will make the necessary arrangements. If the appliance fails the test, the College will, if you wish, arrange for it to be repaired on an ‘at cost’ basis. If you decide to arrange for the appliance to be repaired yourself, you must present it for re-testing after repair. If the appliance still fails, you will be charged for the re-test (currently £4.00), and the College will then undertake to attempt a repair on an ‘at cost’ basis before returning the appliance to you.
G S Payne
Domestic Bursar