School Fire Escape Tools

School Fire Escape Tools

School fires may not get as much attention as a hail-hammered roof or an active shooter on campus, but these devastating occurrences can disrupt learning, damage property and lead to significant loss of life.school fire escape tools The Fund’s risk solutions team shares some school fire escape tools to keep students and staff safe and prepared.

Schools are unique environments and a different set of rules apply when it comes to fire safety.school fire escape tools Hundreds, often thousands, of individuals are present at any given time and evacuation procedures must be carefully designed to ensure all pupils reach a place of final safety. Different factors must be taken into account such as building layout, student age groups and accessibility needs.

To prevent panic and confusion during a fire, it is important that all teachers, students and staff know the school’s evacuation plan. Regularly conducted expected and unexpected drills should familiarize everyone with exits, assembly points and emergency routes.

Choosing an outside meeting point for families is also essential so they can quickly locate the children once they have escaped the school premises. An easily identifiable spot such as a light post or bus stop is best, and the school’s address should be clearly displayed outside.

Clear signage and emergency lighting are critical in a school to guide people to safety during a fire. These should be located along all exits and escape routes, and should comply with the current regulatory standards.

The stairwells in schools should always be free from obstructions to enable easy egress. It’s essential that they are well maintained and any items hung from the ceiling or on the walls are removed regularly to avoid the build-up of debris which could trap people in an event of a fire.

When a fire alarm sounds, it is vital that all doors and windows can be opened quickly to allow people to evacuate the premises safely. For this reason, it’s recommended that all school premises have a legally compliant free-swing door closer such as the Pro Fire Door Retainer System which will hold fire doors open automatically when the fire alarm is activated, allowing them to close once the fire has been extinguished.

If a student or staff member requires assistance during an evacuation, an accessible evacuation chair is a useful tool to have. Schools have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for pupils with SEND and/or mobility impairments and an evacuation chair will help them follow instructions during a fire.

To learn more about how to meet the current fire safety regulations, speak with one of our friendly advisers at Safelincs. We can advise you on a fire alarm system suitable for your school and arrange installation anywhere in the UK. We can also assist with fire risk assessments, sprinkler systems and fire safety signage. To find out more, visit our site or give us a call. We look forward to hearing from you!

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