University students at newly-built luxury halls in Leeds were placed at risk of death over breaches of fire regulations.
Trinity Hall in Woodhouse was temporarily shut down after one student's father refused to let her move in and contacted West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Three companies - APP Construction Ltd, Trinity Development Leeds Ltd and Niche Homes Ltd - were fined a total of £620,000 on Friday after pleading guilty to failure to comply with fire regulation orders.
A judge told the Leeds-based companies that their actions had the potential for catastrophe.
Prosecutor Cassie Williams said that the student's dad reported his concerns on September 25, 2016.
Leeds Crown Court heard fire inspectors arrived to find the building still under construction despite 27 students already having moved onto the ground floor.
The staircase to one of two main fire escapes was locked.
There was no signage indicating where the fire escapes were.
Self-closing devices were missing from doors meaning fire could have spread quickly through the building.
The upper floors of the building were still under construction and timber was exposed.
Parts of the staircase were covered in bubble wrap and the floors were separated only by plywood.
Miss Williams said the lack of safety measures on the upper floors could have resulted in the early collapse of the building in the event of fire.
The fire alarms were not connected properly and could only be operated manually.
The alarms gave off 'limited noise', making it likely that they would not have been heard in the event of fire.
Flammable material was also being stored in rooms on the ground floor which would have fuelled any fire.
The boiler room also lacked appropriate fire protection.
Miss Williams said:
"Residents were put at risk of death or serious injury."
APP Construction Ltd was responsible for the design of the building.
Niche Homes Ltd was responsible for contracting properties to students.
Trinity Development Leeds Ltd were the freehold owners of the building.
The defendants each pleaded guilty to four breaches of fire safety orders.
Jennifer Dempster QC, mitigating for Trinity Development Leeds Ltd, said: "Nothing even approaching this level of seriousness will ever happen again."
Phillip Morris, mitigating for Niche Homes Ltd, said the company had an average annual turnover of £318m, adding: "Niche is a comparative minnow in terms of not only financial worth but also its role in this incident."
Joseph Hart, for APP Construction Ltd, said: "They are a wholly responsible company.
"They are a local company and a local employer. They have learned their lesson. They are sorry and this prosecution has had an enormous effect on them already."
APP Construction Ltd was fined £400,000.
Trinity Development Leeds Ltd was ordered to pay £160,000.
Niche Homes Ltd was fined £60,000.
The court heard fire safety systems were quickly put in place after the incident and the building was made safe.
Judge Robin Mairs said the dangers the students had been exposed to were 'obvious to ordinary members of the public'.
He said there was potential for 'confusion and catastrophe' had an evacuation been necessary.
Judge Mairs said:
"I have no doubt that the fact that other students having taken leases for the start of term meant that there was financial pressure on all sides to move the students in as quickly as possible."
