Why Fire Safety Should Be A Primary Concern For Schools?

The UK Fire Service is called out to extinguish fires in approximately 1,500 UK schools per year. Regardless of their size, these incidents disrupt the education of around 90,000 students each year, not to mention the economic strain caused by building damages. But most significant of all, these fires compromise safety.

The government recently opened a consultation on proposed revisions to its non-statutory fire safety guidance in schools.

Building Bulletin 100

The Building Bulletin 100 (BB100), as it’s known, was first introduced in 2007 and considers school building design, crucially advising on how to minimize the spread of fire and make the structure adequately resistant to fire.

Yet, with many raising concerns over the guidance, the BB100 requires updating and simplifying. Specifically, the BB100 has been called out for “falling short” on active fire protection methods such as sprinklers - which in newly built school facilities have seen a reduction in installation from 70% in 2007 to around 15% today.

With schools back at full capacity and this renewed focus on legislation, passive fire protection methods, such as fire doors and their hardware, must also be considered to deliver a complete, fire safety package.

fire safety standards

Decision-makers must be proactive in improving the fire safety standards within their school buildings

As the Department of Education seeks views on the revised BB100 reform, decision-makers must be proactive in improving the fire safety standards within their school buildings.

Naturally, fires are unpredictable and can begin in and out of school hours and across various areas of the premises - from food tech rooms to chemistry labs where combustible materials are held. And for some local authority fire brigades, arson is also a common offense, accounting for up to 70% of incidents in school environments.

Legislation and liability

In the event of a fire, should a school be considered unsafe or in breach of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, it is in danger of receiving heavy penalties and fines - not to mention the risk of a damaged reputation.

In a bid to remain compliant, decision-makers must approach fire safety as an ongoing process, habitually managing all areas of fire safety within their facilities to be prepared for all contingencies.

Ensuring fire safety in buildings and schools

This is demonstrated in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, where it’s stated all workplaces must designate a Responsible Person (RP) to ensure their building is prepared in the event of a fire.

This responsibility can often be shared within education environments, and in local authority schools, for example, accountability can be shared between the headteacher and the authority. Conversely, in private or independent schools, the responsibility often lies with the building owner.

As part of their obligations, the RP must manage the ongoing compliance with fire safety legislation, while ensuring all fire systems and procedures, including fire drills, are uncompromised. Additionally, the RP must possess a robust knowledge of fire safety to manage and perform regular fire safety risk assessments.

Constant protection

A fire safety risk assessment is designed to help identify the fire hazards within educational premises

A fire safety risk assessment is designed to help identify the fire hazards within educational premises. When completing a risk assessment, the RP must inspect everything from fire-fighting equipment and fire doors to staff training and pupil understanding towards the school’s procedures in the event of a fire.

As highlighted by the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, a fire risk assessment consists of five steps:

• Identify the people at risk
• Identify all potential fire hazards
• Evaluate the risk
• Record the findings
• Review and revise

Various areas of a school’s fire protection systems are assessed under the evaluation of risk stage, including fire detection methods and emergency escape routes. Escape routes, for example, are fundamental in the event of a fire and rely upon passive fire protection methods, such as fire door sets, that will require ongoing assessment and maintenance to ensure they operate as intended.

fire door for a safe environment

Under The Fire Safety Order 2005, fire door sets in the education sector are a legislative requirement and form a critical role in providing a safer educational environment. Emergency exits conclude escape routes and should be assembled with ‘fire rated’ doors, which can be rated to FD30 or FD60 and will delay the spread of smoke and fire by 30 and 60 minutes respectively.

As part of the risk assessment process, the correct location of all fire doors - whether FD30 or FD60 - is determined based on the risk of the area (FD60s are more likely to be installed in kitchen areas for example).

Maintenance of fire doors

A British Standard sign must be attached to the face of the door on both sides, representing FDKS and AFDKC

All fire doors located within the school building should also be signed appropriately. A British Standard sign must be attached to the face of the door on both sides, representing FDKS and AFDKC (1.5m from the floor). Above all else, fire doors must be fully functional.

In the circumstance of a fire, fire doors must close completely and independently, and their hardware - including hinges, handles, door closers, locks, and signage - is correctly installed and maintained. Upon inspection of a fire door, the RP must review the certification, gaps, seals, hinges, and closing elements to ensure all is functioning appropriately.

Routine fire safety checks

Passive fire protection is described as the backbone of fire safety, and so, in the event a fire door is identified as defective, maintenance must be carried out promptly and professionally, as this will retain the integrity of the escape route and compartmentation.

Fire doors and their hardware form just one element of a successful fire safety strategy, and thus are only one stage of a fire risk assessment. Yet, these simple, routine checks can help save lives and livelihoods. It’s true, fire safety is a primary responsibility for schools, and it should never be overlooked.