010 – Fire Safety Guidance

Guidance No: 010 – Fire Safety / Issue Date and Version Number: To be added / Page: 1 of 8
Review Date:
To be added (or sooner if there is a change in legislation or to reflect best practice or at the request of either party) / Related Policies and Guidance:
For further information please contact:
Name / Position / Contact Number
To be added / Head Teacher / To be added

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRFSO) 2005, which came into force in October 2006, places a duty on the ‘responsible person’ to implement general fire safety precautions that will ensure, so far as is practicable, the safety of employees and others who may be affected by his/her undertakings and to take reasonable precautions to ensure that the premises are safe.

For the purpose of this guidance the ‘Responsible Person’ will be the school’sHead Teacher.

The RRFSO requires the responsible person to:

  • Carry out an assessment of the risks from fire throughout the school;
  • Prepare a policy on fire safety which sets out the arrangements for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of the preventative and protective measures that are implemented across the school to manage the identified fire risks;
  • Appoint a competent person(s) to assist them;
  • Provide information and training for all school employees.

RESPONSIBILITIES FOR FIRE SAFETY

This section describes how governors and Head Teachersshould organise and allocate responsibilities for fire safety throughout theirschool.

The general delegated responsibilities for fire safety within schoolsare outlined as follows:

  • Governing Body
  • Head Teacher (Responsible Person)
  • Teaching and non-teaching staff
  • Contractors

Governing Body–is responsible for:

  • Overall responsibility for fire safety matters.
  • Ensuring the implementation of fire safety management on the school premises.
  • Ensuring that the school’sfire safety management procedures are reviewed annually.
  • Ensuring that statutory requirements are met.
  • Ensuring that proposals to improve fire safety measures are included within the school business plan and that funds are available.
  • Monitoring the procedures to ensure that fire management remains adequate for its purpose and any deficiencies are addressed.
  • Ensuring written fire risk assessments are carried out by a competent person and that these are reviewed annually.

Head Teacher (Responsible Person) -is responsible for:

  • Undertaking or arranging a fire risk assessment and reviewing annually.
  • Arranging appropriate staff training in fire safety including:
  • evacuation procedures;
  • schoolevacuation drills;
  • fire extinguishers types and uses.
  • Ensuring arrangements exist for the day to day up-keep of fire safety in the school.
  • Ensuring that fire evacuation procedures are prepared for the school.
  • Preparing an annual report for governors that summarises progress and matters arising in respect of fire safety management within the school.
  • Ensuring that all physical fire safety measures within the school are adequately maintained in accordance with statutory legislation and guidance.
  • Checking adequate “Permit to Work” systems to ensure safe working by contractors.
  • Developing proposals to improve fire safety measures for inclusion within the school’s business plan.

Teaching and non-teaching staff –Staff are responsible for:

  • Undertaking a daily check of their area to ensure fire exits and escape routes are not obstructed.
  • Bringing to the attention of the Head Teacher potential fire risks in their designated area – such as:
  • Accumulation of flammable material or debris.
  • Misuse, abuse, overloaded or defective electrical equipment.
  • Fire doors wedged open
  • Escape routes obstructed by furniture etc.
  • Ensuring that their designated areas are vacated as a matter of urgency upon hearing the fire alarm, and that all doors and windows are closed; if it is safe to do so.
  • Carrying out a check of their ‘area of responsibility’ to ensure that all pupils, staff and visitors are safely evacuated.
  • It is essential that every member of staff:
  • Observes the school’s no smoking policy
  • Understands the character of fire, smoke and toxic fumes;
  • Is aware of the fire hazards in the school;
  • Practices and promotes fire prevention;
  • Knows the correct action to take if fire breaks out.
  • Assists to evacuate vulnerable pupils, staff and visitors.
  • Attends basic fire safety training annually.
  • Participates in a fire evacuation drill least once per term.

Contractors - The governorsand Head Teacher are to ensure all appointed contractors working on the school premises adhere to fire safety and other policies and procedures.

Private lettings of school premises- The person in charge of those meetings, gathers or clubson the school premises shall at the start of the event brief the attendees:

  • Whether or not a fire alarm test is scheduled during the event.
  • The fire evacuation routes from the room being used.
  • The location of the assembly point following evacuation.
  • On hearing the fire alarm attendees are to evacuate the area and proceed to the designated assembly point.
  • The person in charge is to coordinate the evacuation of the attendees to the allocated assembly point and on ensure all attendees are accounted for.

Co-operation and Co-ordination - Where school premises are shared each ‘employer’ is required to co-ordinate their activities for managing the risks from fire.

Co-ordination and co-operation will include all parties sharing a premise:

  • identifying the nature of any risks from fire and how they might affect others in or around the school;
  • taking all reasonable steps to inform the others employees’ of health, safety and fire matters arising out of their work.
  • co-operating with each other so as to comply with relevant legislation;
  • co-ordinating the various measures that have been taken to reduce the risks from fire including contingency planning;

FIRE SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (FSMS)

In response to fire safety legislation, the school should meet the requirements for fire safety management, through the definition and implementation of the Fire Safety Management System (FSMS).

The school FSMS consists of the Fire Safety Policy supported by the following policies and procedures:

  • School fire risk assessment
  • Emergency evacuation procedures
  • Fire safety training and competency
  • Fire safety audits

FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT

A fire risk assessment is an organised and methodical look at a school, the activities carried out there and the likelihood that a fire could start and cause harm to those in or around the premises.

In addition, when another organisations employees occupy part of a school, whether temporarily or permanently, the Head Teacher should liaise with theother party when completing a fire risk assessment.

A procedure should be in place to ensure that any change either to the occupation, the physical characteristics of a school or within each department that has an effect on fire risk, will result in the fire risk assessment being reviewed.

The requirements for a school fire risk assessment are as follows:

  • Fire risk assessments must be carried out by a competent person (someone who has undertaken fire risk assessment training)
  • The ‘Competent Person’ must ensure that a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks from fire to which pupils, staff and visitors may be exposed is carried out.
  • Include people who are especially at risk, young people, the elderly and people with disabilities (temporary or permanent).
  • Include risks from any dangerous substances which could cause a fire or explosion.
  • Include the risks from arson.
  • Identify the general fire precautions that need to be implemented to comply with the requirements of current legislation.
  • Risks assessments may sometimes indicate that the elimination or control of the risk requires a built solution. Where this is the case, the governors and Head Teacherwill be responsible for arranging the building work. Also, the Head Teacher must ensure that, until the required building work is completed, arrangements to reduce the risk to an acceptable level are implemented.
  • The significant findings of the assessment must be recorded. This must include any persons who have been identified as being especially at risk.

Review of Fire risk Assessments

Risk assessments must be reviewed annually, or when there is reason to believe that they are no longer valid i.e.:

  • following an outbreak of fire;
  • following the failure of precautions e.g. fire detection systems and alarm systems;
  • following substantial changes to furniture or fittings;
  • following alterations to the school building, including internal layout;

CONTINGENCY PLANNING AND PEEPS

The ‘Responsible Person’ must develop record and implement evacuation procedures to be followed in the event of fire or other emergency.

All such procedures must take account of periods of reduced staffing levels

To ensure that contingency plans are fit for purpose and to ensure that staff are fully aware of the procedures that they must follow in the case of a fire or other emergency. The effectiveness of the procedures for evacuation should be evaluated and any deficiencies rectified.

The ‘Responsible Person’ must ensure that fire drills are carried out and reviewed at least termly and any measures necessary to improve the evacuation plans are implemented.

The ‘Responsible Person’ must ensure that systems are in place for alerting pupils, staff and visitors who may not hear an alarm warning of imminent danger.

They must ensure that procedures are in place for the safe evacuation of staff, pupils and visitors, who may, because of a disability, be unable to exit to a place of safety unaided.

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEP’s) must be written for pupils and staff, who are identified as impaired and so will require special measures or assistance in the event of an emergency. (See 010B – PEEPs template).

FIRE PREVENTION

Fire precautions in the form of housekeeping, building installations (compartmentalisation and provision for means of escape) and fire safety systems (fire alarms, emergency lighting, sprinklers etc.) should be inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with manufacturers’ specifications and current statutory requirements.

All manually operated fire alarms, such as rotary gongs, should be tested weekly to ensure that they work and can be heard throughout the school.

Electrical fire detection and fire warning systems should be tested weekly to ensure that they are operating and can be heard. In addition, they should by inspected by a competent person annually; or quarterly if the system has a generator or a wet cell battery back up.

FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT

The type of fire fighting equipment required to effectively manage the fire risks will be identified by the risk assessment.

The ‘Responsible Person’ must ensure that any fire fighting equipment identified as part of the risk assessment is provided in their area of control.

Staff who may be required to use fire fighting equipment must be trained in its safe use.

FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT – TESTING, INSPECTIONS & MAINTENANCE

All fire fighting equipment must be subject to regular checks and maintenance to ensure that they are available for use at all times. Any remedial action identified must be completed in a timely manner.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Basic inspection procedures for portable extinguishers should be carried out on a weekly and monthly basis which should include:-

  • checking the safety clip and indicating devices to determine whether the extinguisher has been operated or not;
  • checking the extinguisher for any external corrosion, dents or other damage that could impair the safe operation of the extinguisher.

In addition to the basic inspection all fire extinguishers should be inspected and maintained annually by a competent service engineer.

FIRE HOSE REELS

If fire hose reels are in place, but are not in use, then they should either be removed or have a sign on them stating that they are not in use. Fire extinguishers are preferred over hose reels which can be difficult to use.

If however hose reels are available for use, then they should be checked quarterly to make sure that they are not damaged or obstructed, and they should also be serviced and maintained annually by a competent service engineer.

FIXED FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEMS

Fixed fire fighting equipment should be tested in accordance with the manufacturers/installers specifications and serviced annually by a competent person.

EMERGENCY LIGHTING

Emergency lighting should be inspected annually by a competent person and also tested weekly, monthly and 6 monthly to check correct operation, by an authorised person.

FIRE EVACUATION DRILLS

Fire Evacuation drills should be carried out once every term in all CBC schools.

All staff and those people that use the school buildings on a regular basis should be made aware of the fire evacuation drill and should be reminded periodically.

Staff working within areas that has a gas supply (i.e. kitchens, laboratories), should ensure the gas supply is isolated before evacuation; if it is safe to do so.

The main building gas supply should be isolated on sounding of the fire alarm, but only if it is safe to do so.

RECORDING OF DRILLS

A record of any tests, inspection, maintenance and drills should be recorded in a manner which is easily retrievable and easy to understand.

The Corporate Health & Safety Team will review these records during standard health and safety audits.

EMERGENCY ROUTES AND EXITS

To ensure that in the event of danger, pupils, staff and visitors can evacuate the premises as quickly and safely as possible the ‘Responsible Person’ and staff must ensure that routes to emergency exits are as short as possible, kept clear and that sufficient emergency lighting is provided.

FIRE SIGNS AND NOTICES

Fire signs and notices, as required by Health and Safety (Signs and Signal) Regulations 1996 must be posted to ensure that staff and others can identify escapes routes, emergency procedures and find fire fighting equipment. The number and type of fire safety signs required should be identified by the risk assessment.

The responsible person must ensure that adequate fire safety signs are posted on emergency exit routes throughout the school.

MANAGEMENT OF CONTRACTORS

Fire safety risks posed by contractors working on school premises, should be assessed and managed in accordance with school’s ‘Management of Contractors Policy’.

FIRE SAFETY TRAINING AND COMPETENCY

Specific and general fire safety training should be provided to all school staff for fire safety. All staff with delegated fire safety roles should be provided with advice considering levels of fire safety training required imparting sufficient competency to undertake the responsibilities assigned.

ALL staff must be provided with adequate fire safety training;

  • At the time when they are first employed i.e. induction training;
  • On the introduction of a new curriculum activity, work equipment/technology or a change to existing equipment;

Training must:

  • Include adequate information on the risks, control measures and evacuation procedures;
  • Be repeated periodically, where appropriate;
  • Be adapted to take account of any new or changed risk;
  • Be appropriate to the risk identified by the risk assessment;
  • Take place during working hours.

FIRE SAFETY AUDITS

The written fire safety procedures, as well as any practical measures must be monitored and reported for compliance with the requirements identified in the Fire Safety Management System.

Audits may also be carried out by Bedfordshire and Luton Fire & Rescue Service, as the local enforcing fire authority. Additionally, fire management will be reviewed as part of the health and safety audit undertaken by the CBC health and safety team.

1