WIREDGOV

New guide to enhance fire safety in schools

DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES News Release (2007/0203) issued by The Government News Network on 9 November 2007

Schools Minister Jim Knight today launched a new guide which will help ensure schools are safer and better protected than ever before from the risk of fires.

'Design for fire safety in schools' will help school designers and fire safety officers take the right steps to ensure new school buildings give staff and pupils the highest level of protection.

He said there is now a presumption that new schools, built under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, will include sprinklers in the vast majority of cases. BSF is the largest school building programme in 50 years and will involve every primary and secondary school in the country being refurbished or rebuilt.

The guide includes:

* New design standards for fire safety in schools - these will apply to both new builds and refurbishment projects;
* The policy to install sprinkler systems in new schools; and from this year all new school designs will have to include sprinkler systems unless they demonstrate there is a very low fire risk;
* The management of fire safety; schools should have regular fire drills, and regularly test their fire alarm systems and evacuation plans.

Schools Minister Jim Knight said:

"Fire safety must be central to the design of all new school buildings.
This new guide shows how to protect school buildings from fire damage and will ensure that the schools we build or refurbish will be safer than ever before. It is right to put safety first when investing more in creating schools fit for education in the twenty-first century."

"I expect new schools to be built to include sprinkler systems as a safeguard against school fires. The installation of sprinklers can extinguish fires quickly and reduce damage to buildings.

"School fires not only damage buildings and potentially put lives at risk but can have longer-term effects, including loss of coursework and disruption to classes. A major fire can disrupt children's education and mean postponing tests and exams.

"The number of school fires has gone down in recent years, although 1 in 20 schools annually still have a fire, ranging from small fires to more serious incidents. I am particularly concerned that 60% of fires are started deliberately. Arson is a serious crime and a real threat to the communities that are targeted. We will come down hard on those who are found guilty of such a serious criminal offence. Whilst I am glad that the number of school fires has decreased steadily over the last few years, it is essential that we continue to work hard with the police to tackle this issue head on."

Peter Holland, the Chief Fire Officer of Lancashire and a member of the Chief Fire Officer's Association, said:

"As fire officers we know that the true cost of arson in schools goes far beyond the huge financial losses involved. The disruption to the education process following an arson attack can be immense and the devastating effect on the wider community is also a major concern, particularly now that school buildings are being utilised for a whole range of activities."

"The new guide incorporates best practice in both life safety needs and property protection measures, a dual approach that acknowledges that preventing fire deaths and injuries when fire strikes - though a priority of course - is not enough and property protection too should be a vital element of fire prevention and protection measures."

"I wholly commend this guide as a significant contribution to fire safety and fire protection in schools."

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. BB100 Design for fire safety in schools is available from Teachernet at http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/fire

2. The Arson Prevention Bureau provides information for schools on how to protect themselves, up-to-date stats on school arson trends and an access Kids Zone which provides activities and info for kids and teachers. More details can be found at http://www.arsonpreventionbureau.org.uk.

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