Fire
To ensure safety with shared buildings, it is University Policy that a Fire Safety Manager is appointed for a building rather than for a department.
The Fire Manager for the WGB is Martin McDonnell. The Deputy Fire Manager is Diana Gauvrit
Fire wardens
It is University Policy to have Fire wardens whose role is to attempt to:
- clear the building in case of an alarm
- note offices which are known to be empty
- pass on known information to the Fire Safety Manager or the Fire Brigade when they arrive
- keep people out of the building until the Fire Brigade declare it safe to re-enter
Anyone willing to be trained to do this should contact the Fire Manager.
The intention is that we should have two fire wardens per corridor.
Fire Doors
The purpose of a fire door is to prevent the spreading of fire and smoke. They are a vital element in increasing the time people need to escape a burning building.
Therefore, DO NOT prop fire doors open.
Some fire doors (mostly mid-corridor doors) are held open by a magnet, which is released when the alarms go off. These are marked with a notice such as:
Automatic Fire Door - Keep Clear.
These are not a concern.
Fire doors should not be wedged open, held by a fire extinguisher, etc.
If you see such a door wedged open in this manner, please remove the obstruction and check that it closes.
If there is a repeated problem or you are concerned, please email Building services.
See also
Updated Dec 2025 - Diana Gauvrit (DSO)
