Posted By James Byatt Hi All, It's ben a while since I've posted a question and I now work for a Student Accommodation Management Company. We're suffering from a high level of vandalism in some of our sites and in particular our residents have great fun ripping fire exit signs off the walls! I know the BS & ES relate to reflectivity, size, colour etc but does anyone know if there is an alternative product other than a sign out there? My thinking is some kind of stensil, one for the green background and one for the white detail and associated spray paints to apply them directly to the wall. This way we can keep re-applying them for a fraction of the costs. If anyone else has any other suggestions or ideas on how to stop studetns from collecting fire exit signs, extinguishers, emergency lighting, traffic cones, beer cans, toilet seats, donkeys (straw) and flashing roof lights please let me know... Cheers James

Posted By Sam Rawcliffe When I was at university they had random room checks. I have vivid memories of being bundled in a wardobe half naked during one such inspection of a young ladies room. (who is now my wife.) It's a good deterrent.

Posted By Brian McMillan Silly me - the screw distance was of course 100mm NOT 10mm

Posted By Roger the Dodger How about random room checks with the threat of legal action for the cost of repairs etc. Afterall its criminal damge. Guess you won't be very popular, but you should consider making an example of someone, to drive the point home. Probably cost you more in legal costs too, but I think the principle matters. You could also consider evicting students (or at least seriously threatening it!), if it can be proven that they have stolen the signs or have them in their rooms.

Posted By Stuart Nagle James. I have seen illuminated fire escape sogns recessed into walls with a flush opaque white plexiglass cover and the fire exit signs silkscreened onto the plexiglass. The assembly was covered and sealed at the edges by an oblong metal frame that was screwed in with screws with anti vandal heads requiring a special tool to remove them. Both the design and position - above doorways - had the desired effect. I understand that these were specially made ina workshop on the establishment to counteract similar vandalism problems, but were an excellent idea. Room searches are OK, but they will not stop the problem only cause it to fo away for a while. Stuart

Posted By Roger the Dodger Can't beat a good 5am barrack room inspection in my books Get up at 3am (1/2 an hour before going to bed) to polish the floors, clean the showers with tooth brushes, Duraglit the copper urinal water pipes etc, 'bull' your boots, make bed packs up etc. Only for the DI to throw your bed and kit out of the window onto the muddy grass below, screaming and shouting at you, doubting your parentage and right to exist in HM Forces... (or to exist at all) Lick road clean wi' tongue, Tell this to the Youth of today and they won't believe you.... All character building stuff... OOPs sorry I'm regressing in to a previous life A prize for identifying the correct Monty Python sketch....hinted at.

Posted By James Byatt Morning Chaps, Have been out of the office for a few days, dealing with a loose tarantula in a student room (but that's another story...) Thanks very much for your replies. We do carry out room inspections but being a private landlord, we have to give 24hr notice which kind of defeats the object of the exercise! We have two main types of site, direct let and nominations. The noms ones are where Uni's send us the students and gaurantee the bookings. These are the sites where residents can be threatened with being chucked off their course if they misbehave. With direct let, they might as well be renting a room in a house for all the control we have over them. It's a new challenge for me as by far the greater focus of safety is aimed at the customer/students H,S & Welfare and not our employees. How I wish there was some ligislative backup for sending "all other users of our sites" on a training course, or being able to offer supervision, instruction etc etc. Put a H&S poster up next to one telling you it's 2-4-1 in Randy's bar - which one are they gonna take note of! Certainly a challenge but not impossible and GREAT fun!! Thanks again, I'll take on board your comments and watch this space for more wiered and whacky examples of student life v's H&S - like the students who decided to have an indoor BBQ by filling the oven grill pan with charcoal and setting light to it. And yes, the room was gutted. Cheers, James

Posted By jackw. Hi, We have similar problems and others much worse in our residential units for young people. Not so much signs but fire extinguishers just can't be left out. With agreement from the fire service we keep them in the main office. We used to make our own sign but have reverted back to buying them in and making them as secure and difficult to remove as we can. Alas they see that as a challenge. Saving grace you have is that the students will be familiar with the building and know (hopefully) the way out including alternative routes. Roger.. obviously never been to Uni. The same guys and girls you see from 1st year going around causing havoc, pink hair mad clothes etc. etc. suddenly trun up in the last few months (job interview time) with short back and sides and a pin stripe suit. The crazy days are gone and they mostly become decent managers leaders etc. "it's a student thing"!!!!