Fire safety is of the utmost importance in schools everywhere. Whether you are the head teacher, site manager, or a classroom assistant, it is your responsibility to get in touch with fire alarm installers near me, and ensure the safety of all of the students and staff under your care. Here are four quick safety tips, to make sure you’re completely compliant with all of your responsibilities, and you’re doing everything you can for your people.
Have a suitable and efficient fire alarm
Fire alarms come in a huge range of types; so much so that the amount of jargon the specialists use can seem overwhelming. You may have heard of systems such as L1/L2/L3/L4/L5 fire alarms. Basically, all that this refers to is the extent to which a fire can be detected within your premises. All fire alarm systems in UK schools need to be designed, installed, commissioned and maintained in accordance with British Standards. Both fire brigades and the Government always recommend using a third party accredited provider for these needs!
Assign fire wardens
In the event of a fire, it’s important to have designated members of staff who act as fire wardens and ensure everyone is where they need to be and the fire brigade has been called. The number of fire wardens you’ll need depends on the level of ‘risk’ of your premises. You can find your level of risk on your school’s Fire Risk Assessment.
The responsibility of a fire warden includes identifying and removing fire hazards, raising the alarm in the event of a fire, checking their designated sections during evacuation to ensure everyone has left the building safely, assisting those with additional needs, using fire-fighting equipment if it is safe to do so and liaising with the fire department.
Have fire drills
Having fire drills is vital, in order to keep your staff and students safe during the event of an actual fire. They also serve the purpose of ensuring your fire alarm system is working properly, and will continue to do so if a fire were to happen. During a drill, everyone will be reminded of emergency routes out of classrooms and the building, the need to evacuate quickly and calmly, and to highlight any areas of concern that need further practice.
Host fire safety days
This tip can apply to the staff and the children. Have trainers come into school one day, or evening after the day has ended, to teach the staff how to correctly use fire extinguishers, how to approach a room believed to be on fire and how to respond calmly and efficiently, including calling 999. Of course, you hope you never have to use these skills, but they could save someone’s life one day!
Hopefully you now have everything you need to keep your school safe in the event of a fire. As with most things concerning fire safety, the key is in careful planning and preparation, as well as practising common sense.
Leave a Reply