What are the fire safety regulations for schools
Schools are legally required to comply with a range of fire safety regulations. New builds must follow the guidelines outlined in Building Bulletin 100, while all schools must adhere to the fire safety risk assessment guide for educational premises.
Many assume that schools must be extra-vigilant and are subjected to stricter regulations due to the fact that they house children, however the risk is far from theoretical. Schools face an unexpected threat: arson. An estimated 1,400 to 1,800 arson attacks occur in UK schools annually, with one in eight schools suffering a serious arson attack. The National Union of Teachers (NUT) estimates that school fires cost around £100 million a year and disrupt the education of approximately90,000 students.
Additionally, according to UK Government fire statistics, around500 non-malicious fires occur in schools every year. Fortunately, these incidents are often confined to a single room, thanks in large part to effective fire compartmentation.
What is fire compartmentation?
Fire compartmentation is the practice of dividing a building into sections using fire-resisting construction. This prevents the rapid spread of fire and smoke, buying valuable time for evacuation and reducing damage. In schools, this means isolating high-risk areas, such as kitchens, from classrooms and other critical zones.
Effective fire compartmentation includes installing and maintaining fire doors, fire-rated ceilings and walls, and ensuring service penetrations are properly sealed. These measures are essential to the passive fire protection systems that underpin school safety.
What are we looking for in a fire risk assessment?
At Summit Environmental, our fire risk assessments include:
· Identifying potential fire hazards and ignition sources
· Recognising combustible materials and unsafe practices
· Considering vulnerable groups such as children and staff with disabilities
· Assessing the need for specialised equipment like extinguishers and evacuation chairs
· Inspecting doors, escape routes, and access points
· Evaluating housekeeping issues that could increase risk
· Recommending emergency evacuation procedures
Passive fire precautions are a major focus. These include ensuring all fire doors are appropriately rated and functional, especially in long corridors or areas requiring separation. Doors must close independently and have fully operational seals and hinges.
Active fire precautions are also assessed, including:
· Manual suppression tools like extinguisher
· Smoke detectors and earl warning systems
· Automatic suppression systems, such as sprinklers
Sprinkler systems, while difficult to retrofit in older schools, remain the only equipment capable of both detecting and suppressing fires automatically. Where necessary, we also provide a schedule of remedial works and recommend essential installations to support compliance.
Why do we work during the holidays?
School holidays often present the ideal time for administrators to book in essential building safety inspections, as they can be completed with minimal disruption to learning. With students and staff safely off-site, our team can carry out detailed fire risk assessments, fire door inspections, and fire compartmentation surveys efficiently and safely.
During the May half term, Summit Environmental supported a range of schools and student accommodation providers across Sussex and the South East by delivering tailored inspections focused on fire prevention and protection. These assessments form a critical part of compliance and safeguarding –ensuring that school buildings are safe, secure, and legally up to standard when the new term begins.
With the summer break fast approaching, now is the ideal time for schools and education providers to schedule their fire safety assessments.
Maintaining school safety starts with smart scheduling and specialist insight.
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