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NEWS

Why Fire Safety Should be a

Primary Concern for Schools

To protect pupils, staff and visitors, schools must adhere to stringent

fire safety regulations. And with fire safety design standards under the
spotlight, Karen Trigg of Allegion UK recalls the necessity of ongoing

assessments and maintenance periods within school buildings

The UK Fire Service is called out to
extinguish fires in approximately 1,500
UK schools per year. Each year, these
incidents - regardless of magnitude
- disrupt the education of around
90,000 students, cause economic
strain through physical building
damage and, most significant of all,
compromise safety.
In line with this, the government
recently opened consultation on
proposed revisions to its non-statutory
fire safety guidance in schools. The
Building Bulletin 100 (BB100), as it’s
known, was first introduced in 2007
and gives thought to school building
design, crucially advising on how to
minimise the spread of fire and make
the structure adequately resistant to
fire. are unpredictable, beginning in and Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)
Yet, the BB100 requires updating out of school hours and across various Order 2005, where it’s stated all
and simplifying. Many have raised areas of the premises, too, from food workplaces must designate a
concerns towards the guidance, tech rooms to chemistry labs where Responsible Person (RP) to ensure
specifically for “falling short” on active combustible materials are held. their building is prepared in the event
fire protection methods such as Arson is also a common offence, of a fire. Often, within education
sprinklers - which in newly built school accounting for up to 70% of incidents environments, this responsibility can
facilities have seen a reduction in in school environments for some local be shared. In local authority schools
installation from 70% in 2007 to around authority fire brigades. for example, accountability can
15% today. With this renewed focus In the event of a fire, should a school be shared between headteacher
on legislation and schools back at be considered unsafe or in breach of and the authority, and in private or
full capacity, passive fire protection the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) independent schools, the responsibility
methods, such as fire doors and their Order 2005, it is in danger of receiving often lies with the building owner.
hardware, must also be considered heavy penalties and fines. Not to As part of their obligations, the
as part of a complete, fire safety mention the risk of a damaged RP must manage the ongoing
package. reputation. To remain compliant, compliance with fire safety legislation,
Legislation and liability decision makers must approach while ensuring fire systems and
As the Department of Education seeks fire safety as a continuous process, procedures, including fire drills, are
views on the revised BB100 reform, routinely managing all areas of fire uncompromised. Additionally, the RP
decision makers must be proactive safety within their facilities to be must possess a robust knowledge of
in improving the fire safety standards prepared for all contingencies. fire safety to manage and perform
within their own school buildings. Fires This is demonstrated in the regular fire safety risk assessments.

18 modern builder - issue 97 oct www.modernbuilder.co.uk