What is school fire safety?

Needless to say, implementing these fire safety measures in schools are vital: Exterior lighting with timers, motion- or daylight-detection sensors. Shrubbery and trees trimmed to keep areas around the building unobstructed. Intrusion alarms on doors, windows, ventilator openings and roof hatches.

How often should a school have a fire drill UK?

It’s for your school to decide how often to hold fire drills, but you should aim to carry them out at least every 6 months or once a term (follow your fire risk assessment on this). Try to hold fire drills as soon as possible after the start of each school year for new staff and pupils.

What is the most common cause of school fires in the UK?

Malfunctioning appliances or equipment, faulty electrics, arson and kitchen blazes are among the leading causes of school fires. Larger fires in schools cost on average £2.8m to repair and in some cases over £20m.

Who is responsible for fire safety in schools?

The responsible person is your school fire safety officer. This can be one person, or a group consisting of people responsible for different aspects of your school’s fire safety. In most schools, the headteacher usually assumes the role of the designated ‘responsible person’ for fire safety.

What should you do before a school fire?

Before a fire starts:

  1. Have an emergency fire plan in place, including a warning/communication system to alert employees of a fire, designated evacuation routes, periodic evacuation drills, extinguisher usage training, and prevention controls.
  2. Inspect your facility for fire hazards.

What do you do if there is a fire at school?

Everybody should walk calmly, orderly, and quietly – Regardless of the nature of a fire emergency, students must not run or race to the exits, as they could fall over and knock into each other. When the alarm rings – everybody should exit the building as quickly and orderly as possible.

Are school fire drills mandatory?

Fire drills must include the removal of teachers and students from the building to a place of safety on the ground outside. Schools not required by law to maintain fire escapes, fire extinguishers, and fire exits may not be required to conduct fire drills, but are strongly encouraged to do so.

How many fire drills are required by law each year UK?

one fire drill
You should carry out at least one fire drill per year and record the results. You must keep the results as part of your fire safety and evacuation plan.

How many serious school fires happen a year UK?

According to Zurich Municipal (Zurich Municipal Insurance, 2005b) each year in the United Kingdom there are estimated to be between 1400 and 1800 fires in schools, with a direct cost estimated to be in excess of £80 million (ODPM, 2005a).

How many serious school fires occur every year?

There are more than 1000 fires in schools every year, with the serious ones costing up to 3 million pounds each in damages.

What do you do in a school fire?

Should fire break out in the school, it will be the responsibility of staff members to:

  1. Raise the alarm using nearest break glass.
  2. Evacuate the school.
  3. Check all pupils/visitors are out of the building.

Do schools need a fire certificate?

The legal requirements governing fire safety procedures in schools are set out in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This Act required certain workplaces, excluding schools, to hold fire certificates. These are no longer required.

What do you need to know about fire safety in schools?

If you are responsible for a school building that is under construction, you must refer to the Building Bulletin issue 100. This document outlines the technical requirements of a design for fire safety in schools. These building regulations not only outline an optimum building layout for fire prevention.

Are there any school fires in the UK?

In 2018-2019 there were 582 fires in UK schools. There were 29 casualties as a result of school fires. 82% of fires were accidental. 18% of fires were started deliberately as an act of arson. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 was introduced to outline general fire precautions that must be adopted by all workplaces in England and Wales.

Why do schools need sprinkler systems in UK?

With arson being one of the leading causes of fires in UK schools, sprinkler systems can help to control and extinguish fires that are deliberately caused during school holiday periods. Fires in empty buildings can smoulder undetected for significant periods, leading to extensive damage.

What is the role of fire wardens in schools?

A key part of their role is to appoint and train fire wardens, who will help them to execute their school’s fire safety strategy. Carrying out a fire risk assessment is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform Order. The findings of this will form the basis of your school’s fire safety strategy. A school fire risk assessment will: