Category Archives: Uncategorized

Fire Safety Alert – Metre Heater Rule

This is an urgent reminder, from the Facilities Management Fire Safety Manager, for all staff and students to check that furniture, and other flammable items are positioned at least one (1) metre away from heaters, and that all electric plug in heating devices are electrically tested and tagged with a current tag affixed.

This reminder comes after a report was received into ASSURA (the UC Health and Safety portal) advising of damage to a desktop, that had the potential to result in an outbreak of fire.

Fortunately, the damage was noticed during furniture movements and immediate action was taken to remove the desk, and other furniture was moved a safe distance away.

As the attached photos shows the desktop edging has been heat affected because the desk was positioned over a wall heater. The heat from an electric heater accumulates on furniture, clothing, and other belongings if they are too close and this is dangerous. If this had gone unnoticed it could have resulted in the plastic edge igniting and resulting in significant asset damage.

What you need to do

  • Remember the “metre heater rule”.
  • All staff and students are to check that all furniture, clothing, and belongings are at least one metre from an electric heater.
  • Do not dry clothing and other articles over or on electric heaters.
  • Check that all electric plug in heating devices are electrically tested and tagged, with a current tag affixed.

Facilities Management

Temporary Room Closures – West Building 23-24 June

Facilities Management (FM) advise the temporary closure of the following rooms in the West Building between 7am Monday 23 June and 5pm on Tuesday 24 June.

  • (SCO2) West Monday 23 June – level 8 – the following rooms will be closed all day with no access: 839, 837 and 831.
  • (SCO2) West Tuesday 24 June- Lab 543 will be closed all day with no access.

These rooms will be closed while FM contractors undertake maintenance cleaning to enable back flow prevention testing as part of the Building Warrant of Fitness (BWOF).

Rooms will not be accessible for the duration of the work. Do not enter. Please adhere to all signage and instruction.

Thank you for your cooperation while these works are in progress.

Direct all enquiries to fmassist@canterbury.ac.nz.

Facilities Management.

Dovedale Campus Ring Road and Carpark Closure for Power Cable Install 23 June- July

Facilities Management advise that there will be a total road closure for the Dovedale Ring Road and the Orakipaoa Carpark for three (3) weeks from 6am Monday 23 June until 10pm Friday 11 July.

We need to close these areas so that contractors can maintain an exclusion (safety) zone for pedestrians and vehicles while a new High Voltage cable and transformer is installed on the Postproduction Building (PPB).

You will be able to use those carparks near the Waimairi Building, and the bollards will be down on the smaller road near Wairakei during the works so that you can easily access these.

Vehicles will be able to access the UC accommodation Halls from the Parkstone or Solway Ave entry.

If Pedestrians are using the driveway to walk into campus, please be aware of the works and additional or different vehicle movement in the area. Please follow all temporary pedestrian access and route signs.

Direct any enquiries to fmassist@canterbury.ac.nz

Thank you for your consideration during these works.