Fire Risk Assessments For Schools, College & Education Sites.
Do I need a fire risk assessment for my school, college or education site?
In England, it is a legal requirement for schools, colleges, and other educational establishments to carry out a fire risk assessment for their premises. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person—such as the headteacher, principal, governing body, or facilities manager—has a legal duty to ensure the safety of staff, students, and visitors from the risk of fire.
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This responsibility includes conducting a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment and implementing appropriate fire safety measures across the premises. These measures may include installing and maintaining fire detection and alarm systems, ensuring clear and accessible evacuation routes, providing adequate signage, and establishing effective emergency procedures for staff and students.
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Educational settings must also consider the specific needs of young people, large numbers of occupants, and individuals who may require assistance during an evacuation.
Failure to comply with fire safety regulations can lead to enforcement action, including fines, prosecution, and in serious cases imprisonment. For this reason, it is essential that schools, colleges, and other education providers ensure their fire risk assessment is carried out and regularly reviewed by a competent and qualified specialist to maintain compliance with current fire safety legislation.
Offering comprehensive fire risk assessment services for schools and college settings.
Educational buildings can vary widely depending on the age of students, the types of activities carried out, and the layout of the premises. Each type of setting presents its own fire safety considerations.
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Here are some common types of educational properties we provide fire risk assessments for:
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Primary Schools: These settings cater to younger children and require clear evacuation procedures, well-maintained alarm systems, and staff training to ensure pupils can be evacuated quickly and safely.​
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Secondary Schools: Larger premises with higher occupancy levels, specialist classrooms, and laboratories. Fire risk assessments must consider areas such as science labs, workshops, and assembly halls.
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Colleges and Sixth Form Centres: These environments often include a mix of classrooms, laboratories, communal areas, and sometimes public access spaces, requiring comprehensive fire safety planning.
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Universities and Higher Education Buildings: Large and complex premises including lecture theatres, research laboratories, libraries, and student accommodation, each presenting different fire safety risks.
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Nurseries and Early Years Settings: Facilities caring for very young children require particular attention to evacuation procedures, staff supervision, and safe building layouts.
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Special Educational Needs (SEN) Schools: These settings may require additional evacuation planning, including Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for students who may need assistance.
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Boarding Schools and Student Accommodation: Residential education environments require fire safety measures similar to residential buildings, including alarms, escape routes, and night-time safety procedures.
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Training Centres and Adult Education Facilities: These premises often host varying numbers of adult learners and may include workshops, classrooms, and meeting spaces that require appropriate fire safety management.
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We have a clear understanding of fire evacuation strategies within schools and educational premises.
General fire safety management associated with schools and educational facilities.
As the responsible person for a school, college, or other educational premises, you must ensure that your buildings are properly managed to protect students, staff, and visitors from the risk of fire at all times. This includes understanding the fire risks within your premises and ensuring appropriate safety measures are in place.
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Staff should be trained to help prevent fires, recognise potential fire hazards, and understand how to respond effectively in the event of an emergency. They should be familiar with the school’s fire procedures, evacuation routes, and alarm systems, and know how to support the safe evacuation of students, including those who may require additional assistance. Staff should also be encouraged to report any fire hazards or concerns so that they can be addressed promptly.
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Good fire safety management is essential in educational environments to reduce the likelihood of fire occurring. If a fire does occur, effective management helps ensure it can be controlled quickly and safely, or that the building can be evacuated in a calm and organised manner. Particular attention should be given to areas such as classrooms, laboratories, kitchens, assembly halls, and storage areas where fire risks may be present.
You should ensure that robust procedures are in place to prevent fires, maintain fire detection and alarm systems, keep escape routes clear and accessible, and ensure staff receive regular fire safety training. Emergency plans should also be established and clearly communicated so that everyone—especially staff who play a key role in evacuation—knows how to respond if a fire occurs.
The fire risk assessment we carry out will help you review your current fire safety arrangements, ensuring that your fire prevention measures, procedures, and safety systems are suitable and functioning correctly. The assessment will also identify any areas that may require improvement to help ensure your premises remain compliant with fire safety legislation and provide a safe environment for all occupants.
Fire Safety Guidance For Schools.
BB 100: Design for Fire Safety in Schools is official UK government guidance that sets out fire safety design standards for school buildings in England. It is published by the Department for Education and is formally titled “Building Bulletin 100: Design for Fire Safety in Schools.”
The Fire risk assessment process
1.Quotation
2. Site Visit
3.Report Created
4.Handover
This short guide is intended to assist ‘persons’ with duties under fire safety legislation in England
to comply with the legislation.
Its purpose is to explain the duties in simple, non-legal language.
As such, it is not a guide to completing a fire risk assessment
