Student Accommodation Electrical Regulations

1. Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 there is an obligation on the College to control all electrical appliances connected to its electrical system.

2. You can only bring electrical appliances such as PCs, laptops, printers and stereos into College if you can guarantee their safety. If they are over two years old you should have them tested by a qualified electrician before bringing them into College. You may be asked for proof of testing if there is any doubt as to the safety of the item. The College can arrange to have your electrical appliances tested, for which there is a small charge per item.

3. Every appliance must carry the appropriate British Standard number or Kite mark. The plug must also carry BS number 1363, be of the safety sleeve type, and be correctly fused for the appliance. Flexible cables must be in good condition and not worn, perished, split, stretched or twisted. You are responsible for ensuring that appliances are well maintained and kept clean, dry and free from dirt and tested regularly by competent people.

4. DIY multi-sockets and rotary extension cables are strictly prohibited. Only factory-made, fused multi-sockets fitted with a plug to BS 1363 may be used where there are insufficient permanent sockets. Where used, cables are not to be trailed in such a way as to constitute a trip hazard.

5. Foreign adaptors, converters and extension cables are acceptable as long as they fulfil the criteria in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4.

6. If you are unsure about the safety of an item, you should contact the Director of Administration to ask for advice.

7. You may not bring into College Accommodation: 

   1. Any kind of cooking appliance including microwaves, small ovens, electric rings, popcorn makers

   2. Electric fans

   3. Electric fires or heaters of any kind (gas, oil, paraffin, electrical)

   4. Infra-red lamps 

   5. Decorative lighting, including any type of strings of lights

   6. Halogen lamps

9. Exemptions from the above may be granted on medical/health or religious grounds only. You should seek permission in writing to the Director of Administration prior to bringing in and using the appliance.

10. You may bring kettles, toasters and sandwich toasters subject to paragraphs 2 and 3 but these must be stored and used in the kitchens only. They must not be used in bedrooms.

11. The College reserves the right to enter any room in order to check on the use and safety of any electrical equipment. Any appliances, leads etc. thought to be faulty, potentially dangerous or in breach of the guidelines above will be removed and retained by the college until the end of term. There is a decanal fine for using dangerous or banned equipment in rooms.

12. You must not interfere with electrical fittings or connect appliances to a lighting circuit. You must not use any kind of additional lighting apart from the bedside table or study desk lamps provided (if any). 

13. If one of your appliances trips the electricity supplies you should not try and use it again but inform maintenance who will investigate. Constant attempts to use faulty equipment inconvenience your fellow students when the electricity supply is tripped. All instances of this will be reported to the Director of Administration. 

14. Please help the college to reduce risk from electrical appliances and protect the environment by switching off and unplugging items when they are not in use.

15. To avoid the danger of overheating or fire laptops must not be left charged or used on beds.

16. You must remove all your electrical appliances when departing from College accommodation. 

THE COLLEGE’S DECISION ON THE USE OF AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE IS FINAL

Director of Administration updated July 2024