Technical guidance for educational premises

Section 1: Fire Risks and Preventative Measures

Educational establishments, particularly schools, are uniquely vulnerable to fire. Statistics indicate an average of 1,800 fires per year in England and Wales, with 60% of school fires started deliberately. Consequently, arson prevention is a top priority for educational premises.

Arson and Security To reduce the threat of arson, owners should:

• Deter unauthorised entry by limiting site entrances and providing robust boundary security.

• Ensure the exterior of buildings is well lit and reduce concealed areas that offer cover for offenders.

• Remove all combustible rubbish regularly and secure waste bins in a compound separated from the building; never place skips against walls.

• Secure all storerooms, head teacher’s offices, and general offices at the end of the working day.

Housekeeping and Storage Effective housekeeping lowers the chance of a fire starting and keeps escape routes clear.

• Waste Management: Waste should be kept in suitable containers. Skips and wheeled bins should be a minimum of 6 metres away from the building to prevent them from being used to start external fires.

• Safe Storage: Over-stocked storerooms often become dumping grounds. Combustible materials must never be piled against electrical equipment or heaters.

• Gymnasium Equipment: Foam mats and crash pads should be made of combustion-modified foam. When not in use, they should be laid flat and stacked in dedicated fire-resisting storerooms; stacking them vertically against walls significantly increases fire growth speed.

• Laboratories: Retention of large quantities of flammable liquids should be avoided. Quantities up to 50 litres must be stored in fire-resisting cabinets or bins.

Dangerous Substances If the premises use flammable gases or liquids (e.g., in science labs or technology workshops):

• LPG Cylinders: Keep these upright in a secure, well-ventilated location in the open air, away from sources of ignition.

• Gas Piping: Piped supplies to lab benches should be made of rigid metal and fitted with an isolating valve to shut off the supply at the end of the day.

Equipment and Electrical Safety

• Heating: Convector or fan heaters are preferred over radiant heaters. Radiant or naked-flame heaters must be fitted with fire guards.

• Cooking: Extraction filters in canteens must be cleaned regularly to prevent grease build up. Deep fat fryers should have automatic temperature cut-offs.

• Electrical Maintenance: Faulty equipment is a leading cause of accidental fires. All portable equipment should undergo Portable Appliance Testing (PAT), and fixed installations must be inspected by a competent engineer.

Restricting Fire Spread Many modern educational buildings use insulated core panels. Polymeric cores (like polystyrene or polyurethane) can melt and produce toxic smoke, potentially leading to early structural collapse. Owners must ensure heating appliances are not installed against these panels and that any damage to the metal skin is repaired immediately to prevent core exposure.

Section 2: Fire Detection and Warning Systems

In simple, single-storey premises (like a small village school), a shout of "fire" or a manual bell might suffice. However, most educational premises require an electrical fire warning system.

System Requirements

• Manual Call Points: These "break-glass" boxes should be red, conspicuous, and positioned at exits. No one should have to travel more than 45 metres to reach one.

• Automatic Fire Detection (AFD): AFD is necessary in areas where a fire could develop unobserved (storerooms), where people work alone, or as a "compensating feature" for extended escape distances.

• Special Warnings: Audible alarms should be loud enough to be heard over background noise. In noisy workshops or for those with hearing impairments, audible alarms must be supplemented by visual beacons or vibrating pagers.

Management and Testing

• False Alarms: Malicious activation is a common problem in schools. To mitigate this, call points can be fitted with protective covers.

• Testing: Systems must be tested weekly by activating a different call point each time. A professional service by a competent person is required every six months.

Section 3: Firefighting Equipment and Facilities

Portable Extinguishers For standard (Class A) risks (wood, paper, textiles), provide one water-based extinguisher for every 200m² of floor space, with at least two per floor.

• Siting: They should be near exits and on escape routes. The travel distance to an extinguisher should not exceed 30 metres.

• Types:

  • Water (Red): For Class A only.

  • Foam (Cream): For Class A and B (flammable liquids).

  • CO2 (Black): For electrical fires.

  • Class F (Canary Yellow): For deep fat fryers in kitchens.

Fixed Systems and Firefighter Facilities

• Sprinklers: These are highly effective for arson mitigation and property protection. If a system is shut down for maintenance, owners must implement compensatory measures like extra fire patrols.

• Access: Access roads and dry rising main inlet boxes must be kept clear of parked cars to ensure fire engines can approach within 18m of the building.

• Lifts and Shafts: Firefighting shafts (with protected lobbies) help firefighters reach upper floors. Firefighting lifts can also be used to evacuate people with mobility impairments.

Section 4: Escape Routes

The primary goal is for everyone to reach a place of total safety unaided.

Design and Capacity

• Widths: A 750mm wide route can accommodate 100 people in normal risk premises. A 1050mm width (the minimum recommended for school corridors) can accommodate 200 people.

• Travel Distances:

  • Higher Risk: 12m (single direction), 25m (more than one route).

  • Normal Risk: 18m (single direction), 45m (more than one route).

• Inner Rooms: These (where the only escape is through another room) should be avoided. If necessary, they must accommodate no more than 60 people and have a vision panel or AFD in the access room.

Stairways and Basements

• Protected Stairways: These are "places of reasonable safety" enclosed in fire-resisting construction. They must be kept clear of all combustibles.

• Basements: Basements used by more than 60 people require at least two protected escape stairways. They should be separated from the ground floor by two fire doors to prevent smoke spread.

• External Stairs: These must be protected along their full length. Any doors or windows within 1.8m horizontally or 9m vertically of the stairs must be fire-resisting.

Seating and Gangways In assembly halls or lecture theatres:

• Gangways should be at least 1.05m wide.

• No seat should be more than seven seats away from a gangway.

• Standing in gangways or in front of exits is strictly prohibited.

Help for People with Special Needs Owners must provide a safe means for disabled people to leave. This often involves Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs).

• Refuges: These are fire-resisting areas where disabled people can wait for assistance. They must lead directly to a protected escape route and should never be used as the sole plan (the plan must not rely on the fire service).

• Evacuation Chairs: These may be necessary for Negotiating stairs if the lift is not a designated evacuation lift.

Section 5: Emergency Escape Lighting

Emergency lighting is required for internal routes without windows or if the premises are used during darkness.

• Coverage: It should illuminate exit doors, corridors, stairways, changes in floor level, firefighting equipment, and alarm call points.

• Duration: Systems should normally have a 3-hour duration.

• Maintenance: Carry out a monthly function test and an annual full discharge test.

Section 6: Signs and Notices

Signs assist people unfamiliar with the layout (visitors, contractors).

• Pictograms: All safety signs must be pictographic (the "running man"). Text-only signs are not compliant.

• Positioning: Exit signs should be positioned so the next sign is always in sight along the escape route. They should be fixed above doors (2.0m to 2.5m height).

• Fire Action Notices: These should be posted at call points and in common areas (staff rooms), detailing exactly what to do in an emergency.

• Fire Doors: All self-closing fire doors must be labelled "Fire door - keep shut".

Section 7: Management, Training, and Recording

Record Keeping If you employ five or more people, you must legally record the significant findings of your FRA. This includes hazards identified, preventative measures, and the emergency plan. A log book should be kept to record all tests of alarms, emergency lighting, and fire drills.

Emergency Plans A written plan should cover:

• Warning procedures and evacuation instructions.

• Duties of staff with specific roles (e.g., Fire Marshals).

• Arrangements for crèches and young children (who depend on staff for guidance).

• Procedures for stopping dangerous machinery or isolating gas/power supplies.

Staff Training All staff (including part-time and temporary) must receive induction training.

• Content: Training must cover the emergency plan, alarm procedures, escape routes, and the importance of keeping fire doors closed.

• Fire Marshals: These individuals require advanced training in search procedures, human behaviour, and liaising with the fire service.

• Students: It is good practice to involve students in training so they understand the importance of fire doors and where to assemble.

Fire Drills Drills should be held at least annually, though termly or semester-based drills are preferred to account for student turnover.

• Scenario: One drill should assume a major exit is "blocked" to test if staff can use alternative routes.

• Roll Call: A roll call should be performed at assembly points. If this is not practical (as in some large universities), robust "sweeping" procedures by staff must be used to ensure the building is empty

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information within these pages are accurate and not misleading, LESH Consulting Ltd cannot accept any liability for any loss or liability arising from the use of any such information.