Figures recently released by insurance group Zurich revealed that on average school fires caused around £128,000 worth of damage last year. And between 2020 and 2023 the insurer had reviewed 115 fires in schools. The total amount of damage came to more than £27 million. Zurich has highlighted that while many schools have made good progress with fire safety, there’s more to do to be fully protected.
The amount of damage caused by fires does of course vary. In January for example a secondary school in Manchester had to close at the start of term following a fire breaking out. The blaze was contained in one classroom but there was smoke damage to other areas. For other schools the disruption can be a lot worse. After fire breaking out at this school in Bolton last August, a temporary ‘village’ of modular classrooms has had to be set up on adjacent playing fields while the school is rebuilt over a three year period. Thankfully nobody was injured in the fire. But its impact has been massive, with pupils initially having to attend school in temporary hubs including a cricket club before the modular village was created.
Do you know all the fire risks in your school?
How long has it been since your last fire risk assessment was completed by a competent person? Are your current fire safety management plans still up to date and fully addressing all of the potential fire risks that exist?
Schools are challenging premises, often with many areas and complex layouts so the range of potential risks is broad. There are some obvious higher-risk areas like science labs, and DT and IT rooms. Housekeeping is a constant challenge given the number of people in the building and volume of materials in use in classrooms.
In addition to the potential issues that could arise from the electrical installations and equipment in a school building, electrical fire risks are also added to by the number of devices being carried by students. There are also risks from students who smoke on school premises, and the rising popularity of vaping presents extra challenges especially if counterfeit or faulty ones are being used.
Arson continues to be a problem too, as illustrated by this fire last year at a primary school in Hartlepool. The summer holidays are a particularly high-risk time so it’s important to consider all steps that need to be taken, such as making sure buildings and windows are locked and that waste materials and bins aren’t easily accessible.
When was your fire equipment last serviced?
Check to see when you last had fire equipment like your fire extinguishers, fire alarms and fire doors serviced. In such a busy environment, it’s easy for everyday demands to overshadow the need to keep up to date with all of your maintenance and testing. Make sure you’re carrying out all the internal tests in accordance with schedules and bring in a competent person to do inspections and servicing as required. Keep on top of servicing of security equipment too, such as intruder alarms, to help prevent criminals gaining access inside school buildings.
Conduct fire drills and check evacuation procedures
The current Government recommendation is that fire drills should be carried out at least annually but ideally once a term. It’s advisable to hold one early on in the first term to make sure anyone new to the school knows what to do in a real emergency.
Fire drills help pupils of all ages quickly recognise the sound of the alarm and know how to react appropriately. Ensure all staff are trained in what’s expected of them and then choose the day carefully to make sure as many pupils as possible can participate. Check that plans are in place for any staff or students who may need additional help when being evacuated. Regular fire drills will also help to highlight any issues, like blocked escape routes, that could hinder an evacuation if there was a genuine emergency.
Do you need advice about fire safety in your school?
Jackson Fire and Security has been providing fire and security expertise and solutions for over thirty years. You’ll find more information about our fire safety services here and please don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to find out more about how we can help you.