Safeguarding students, staff, and visitors is a top priority for any school. One of the most critical components of maintaining a safe educational environment is conducting a thorough and regular fire risk assessment. This guide aims to provide school facilities managers with a detailed overview of fire risk assessments, their importance, and practical steps for implementation.
What is a Fire Risk Assessment?
A fire risk assessment is a systematic evaluation of a school’s premises to identify potential fire hazards and assess the effectiveness of current safety measures. The primary objective is to estimate the level of fire risk and implement strategies to mitigate these risks, thereby ensuring the safety of everyone on the premises.
Key Objectives of a Fire Risk Assessment:
- Identify fire hazards: Pinpoint sources of ignition, fuel, and oxygen.
- Evaluate fire safety measures: Assess the adequacy of fire detection systems, alarms, extinguishers, and emergency lighting.
- Review evacuation procedures: Ensure evacuation routes are clear and accessible.
- Implement risk reduction strategies: Recommend measures to minimize identified risks.
Importance of Fire Risk Assessments in Schools
Fire risk assessments are essential for safeguarding both people and property, particularly in school settings where buildings can be densely populated with students and staff. They play a crucial role in ensuring that fire safety measures are robust and evacuation procedures are straightforward and well-practised.
Benefits of Conducting Fire Risk Assessments:
- Enhanced Safety: Proactively identifying and mitigating fire hazards reduces the likelihood of a fire occurring.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensures compliance with fire safety legislation and regulations, avoiding potential legal repercussions.
- Peace of Mind: Provides reassurance to parents, staff, and students that the school is a safe environment.
Fire Safety Duties and Responsibilities
Who is Responsible for Enforcing Fire Safety Legislation?
In the UK, the responsibilities of schools under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) are clearly outlined in the government’s guidance on fire safety in school buildings. All types of schools, including nursery schools, primary and secondary schools, academies, free schools, special schools, and pupil referral units, must adhere to these stringent regulations.
Assigning a Responsible Person for Fire Safety
The RRO mandates the designation of one or more competent persons to undertake fire safety duties. This competent person must possess the necessary training, experience, and knowledge to implement and manage all fire safety measures effectively.
Conducting a Fire Risk Assessment
What Does a School Fire Safety Risk Assessment Involve?
A comprehensive fire risk assessment for a school encompasses evaluating various safety features and practices, including:
- Fire Alarms and Detection Systems: Ensuring all fire alarms and automatic detection systems are functional and appropriately placed.
- Fire Extinguishers: Verifying the availability, accessibility, and condition of fire extinguishers.
- Emergency Lighting: Checking that emergency lighting is operational and adequately illuminates escape routes.
- Staff Training: Ensuring that all staff members have received adequate fire safety training and are familiar with evacuation procedures.
How Often Do Schools Need a Fire Risk Assessment?
Fire risk assessments are mandatory and should be tailored to the specific needs of each school premises. The frequency of these assessments can vary based on different recommendations and legal requirements:
- Annual Assessments: It is generally recommended that schools carry out fire risk assessments at least once per year. This ensures that current fire safety protocols remain adequate and in line with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order of 2005.
- Additional Assessments: Beyond the regular annual assessments, additional fire risk assessments should be conducted if there are significant changes to the premises or its use. This includes structural changes, changes in activities, or changes in the type of occupancy.
A qualified fire risk assessor can provide more guidance on the best approach for a particular school.
Fire Safety Risks to Identify
- Escape Routes: Confirm existing travel distances and recommend additional exit routes or compartmentation if necessary. Final exits should be checked weekly to ensure they are operational.
- Compartmentation: Inspect areas above false ceilings and focus on protected staircases and high-risk areas to ensure good compartmentation standards.
- Fire Doors: Check that all fire doors are properly installed, maintained, and regularly inspected to ensure they close correctly and provide the necessary protection.
- Alarm Systems: Address issues with automatic fire detection systems and recommend actions to prevent unwanted alarm activations.
- Extinguishers: Ensure frequent visual inspections of fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment and consider alternative solutions like locked boxes or audible alarms if necessary.
- Housekeeping: Inspect areas such as plant rooms and electrical cupboards for combustible items to maintain good housekeeping standards.
- Emergency Planning: Regularly test evacuation procedures through unannounced fire drills, ensuring all students and personnel are aware of the fire assembly points and monitor the effectiveness of these drills.
- Staff Training: Review and ensure that all staff have received high-quality fire safety training, including induction and evacuation training.
Fire Safety Management and Training
Establishing a Fire Safety Policy
Every school should have a comprehensive fire safety policy that outlines procedures for fire prevention, emergency response, and evacuation. This policy should be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect any changes in the building’s structure or activities.
Reviewing and Revising Your Fire Risk Assessment
Fire risk assessments must be reviewed annually or whenever significant changes occur. While external contractors are not always necessary for these reviews, they can provide valuable expertise and an objective perspective.
Professional Advice & Guidance
The fire risk assessor should ensure that evidence of correct maintenance for fire safety, electrical, and gas systems is available. Guidance should also be given on the frequency of inspections and the type of competent contractors required for these tasks.
Fire Safety Management Team
A fire safety management team should be in place that regularly monitors and evaluates the school’s fire safety procedures. This team should consist of a designated fire safety officer, members of the school administration, and any relevant external contractors or experts.
Regular Training for Staff
Continuous training for staff is also essential to maintain effective fire safety practices. All personnel should receive induction training on emergency procedures and evacuation protocols. Regular refresher courses should be provided, and unannounced fire drills should be conducted to test the effectiveness of these protocols.
Fire Risk Assessment Services for Schools
How to Get Help with Fire Risk Assessment in Schools
At Eyton Solutions, our expert team has extensive experience in providing fire risk assessments for educational premises. We offer tailored services to meet the unique needs of each school, ensuring compliance with regulations and enhancing overall safety.
To learn more about our fire prevention and fire risk assessment services or to schedule an assessment, contact us today.
