Maintaining Schools for the future our initiative Len Allen
This Building Bulletin on design for fire safety in schools gives comprehensive guidance on the life safety requirements to comply with Part B of the Building Regulations on Fire Safety. It also describes appropriate strategies to reduce the risk from fires and recommends property protection measures that go beyond the life safety requirements of the Building Regulations. Building Bulletin 100 Published Sept 2007
Jim Knight, MP Minister for Schools 1 March 2007: Stated that it is now our expectation that all new schools will have sprinklers fitted He went on to say that it includes those schools undergoing major refurbishment and schools using public funds will have to complete a risk assessment & and cost benefit analysis exercise to help decide whether they should be fitted with sprinklers. In effect, the Government s expectation is that in the majority of cases this will lead to the installation of sprinklers.
BB:100: Guidance on the life safety requirements to comply with Part B of the Building Regulations on Fire Safety. Design guide for improving fire safety in schools, increasing children's safety & helping to ensure continual education It stresses the importance of maintaining the fabric of the school.
BB:100: Sept 2007 Objectives of property protection Minimise the effects of fire on the overall operation of the school Limit the effects of interruption to the operation of the school Seek to have the school operational with 24 hours Protect the buildings
BB:100 Tool Kit CD-Rom - Assessing the risk from fire providing a ranking of High, Medium and Low CD Rom - Cost Benefit Analysis cost effectiveness of installing sprinklers.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 The Responsible Person must make a Suitable & Sufficient Assessment of the risks for the purpose of identifying the general fire precautions required. Reduce the risk of the spread of fire Mitigate the effects of fire Means of escape can be safely and effectively used at all material times.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 The Responsible Person must: Mitigate the detrimental effects of a fire & reduce the risk from fire to as low as reasonably practicable by: Reduce number of people exposed to the risk Measures to avoid propagation of fire
Initial Project Group meeting July 2008 Meeting with the Bedfordshire County Council and Luton Council corporate risk managers, corporate health and safety officers: Agenda To raise awareness of BB100 To encourage them to use BB100 on new builds and major refurbishments To build on existing initiatives in regard to risk assessment training and fire safety audits on schools Discuss our proposals in regard to them running the BB100 toolkit in existing schools across the County Proposals for the Seminar in April / May 2009 Follow-up Arson visits to highest at risk schools following the toolkit exercise!
Part 1 Combined Fire Authority Management paper recommending that they endorse our joint campaign to: Take raise the awareness and to take into account the Fire Safety Order and BB100: The use of BB100 for all new builds, major extensions and significant refurbishments. The use of the tool kit in determining the cost benefit of installing sprinklers in all high / medium risk schools.
Management paper to our Combined Fire Authority recommending that they endorse our joint campaign to: Part 2 The commitment to assess all of our existing schools to determine their current level of fire risk. Due to the large numbers of non-accidental fires, arson prevention is an important part of a school's security strategy. Any package of measures has to include fire protection, deterring trespass on sites and the prevention of illegal entry into buildings.
Second Project Group meeting September 2008 2 nd Meeting with the Bedfordshire County Council and Luton Council corporate risk managers, corporate health and safety officers: Discuss the proposals in regard to them running the BB100 toolkit in existing schools across the County and the FRS to run it in the faith and private schools Discuss Follow-up Arson visits to highest at risk schools following the toolkit exercise! To encourage them to use BB100 on new builds and major refurbishments Discuss the proposals for the Seminar in April / May 2009
BB100 Tool kit BB100 looks at what risks your school faces? The 4 part survey and risk assessment allows you to determine: Type and scale of risk Trends or patterns in fire incidents involving your school Fire safety or fire protection measures required Efficiency of your chosen fire safety measures
When running the BB100 Tool kit It considers each question in relation to your individual school buildings and scores the form accordingly The tool kit addresses all types of school building - including those used only by staff. Some responses may be appropriate only for very specific types of building. Note: This tool is concerned with life safety, building and property protection, and, to a lesser extent, environmental protection some questions may implicitly address only one of these.
BB100 Tool kit Completing the survey should have taken between 15-30 minutes. The four-part assessment analyses: Incidence of arson and fire environment and buildings Effectiveness of fire safety and fire protection measures The consequences of a fire based on your level of perceived threat Some questions relate to the incidence of arson in the past 5 years, fire safety or fire protection measures employed and the school environment and buildings. At the end of the assessment it recommends appropriate fire safety or fire protection measures for your school.
Part 1 Incidence of fire Moving the pointer to the top left hand box of each question will bring up a pop-up list of notes which will help in answering the question.
Part1- Incidence of Fire 1.1 Arson-deliberate fire in the last 10 years Within the school grounds/ common in school grounds 1.2 Vandalism- in the last 5 years Within the school grounds/ common in school grounds 1.3 History of fires No of fires in last 10 yrs / major fires in last 10 yrs 1.4 Incidence of arson in the locality Locality has low arson rate/ locality has high arson rate 1.5 Fires in other schools in locality in last 5yrs Few cases of fires in other schools/ frequent cases
Part 2
Part 2-Environment and buildings 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Security measures in buildings Good security measures for school building / few security Security measures in school grounds Good security for school grounds/ no security measures Opportunities for arson Few opportunities for arson/ many opportunities for arson Buildings state Well maintained and little damage/ disrepair and vandalised Buildings height Single storey/ High rise
Part 2-Environment and buildings 2.6 Building construction Traditional / lightweight 2.7 Building design and routes for fire spread Few / many 2.8 Building size total floor area Small building / very large building 2.9 Building distribution Distributed buildings / single building 2.10 Risk of fire from school activities Low / high
Part 2-Environment and buildings 2.11 Out of hours use of school facilities by the public 2.12 None or low out of hours use / frequent out of hours use Building users at risk Low / High
Part 3
Part 3 Fire safety and fire protection measures 3.1 Passive fire protection measures Good Compartmentation, barriers, doors/ lack of or large 3.2 Design relaxations of passive measures None / Atrium or open plan areas 3.3 Fire detection and warning system Automated and linked / Human detection and hand bell 3.4 Means of escape, signs, emergency lights Many exits and short escape routes / few exits and long routes 3.5 Occupancy density Few people, small groups / Large numbers one compartment
Part 3 Fire safety and fire protection measures 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Training and Drills Good training of staff frequent drills / no training or drills Management of fire safety Good / Poor Fire service notification Automatic / none Fire service location Very close / very distant
Part 4 Results section
Part 4 Consequences and impact of a Fire 4.1 Impact of fire on users Low / High risk of death 4.2 Impact of fire on education Low / High 4.3 Impact on community Low / High 4.4 Potential cost Low / High 4.5 Environmental impact Low / High
Scores for each part are added up. Part 1 Incidence of arson (fire) 6 Part 2 Environment and buildings 21 Total=27 Part 3 Fire safety or fire protection measures 9 Part 4 Consequences of a fire 15 Total=24 TOTAL 51
Score section with explanations Results section Low risk Average risk High risk
Scores Total overall scoring Scoring Parts 1 and 2 Scoring Parts 3 and 4 Low risk 0 40 Average risk 41 100 High risk 101 230 Low risk Averag e risk High risk 0 20 Low risk 0 20 21 60 Average risk 21 50 61 85 High risk 51 145
Overall scores Low risk Proposed overall scoring Low risk 0 40 Average risk 41 100 High risk 101 230 The fire safety and fire protection survey and risk assessment indicates your school is at a low level of risk. Sprinklers may be beneficial. Average risk The fire safety and fire protection survey and risk assessment indicates your school is at an average level of risk. A sprinkler system is recommended. High Risk The fire safety and fire protection survey and risk assessment indicates your school is at a high level of risk. Sprinklers should be provided..
Fire safety or fire protection measures for consideration to reduce risk of fire (Parts 1 and 2) Low risk ( 0 40 ) The fire safety and fire protection survey and risk assessment indicates your school is at a low level of risk with regard to the incidence of fire and environment and buildings. Sprinklers may be beneficial. You may also wish to consider: Improved building security measures Improved site security measures Better building and equipment maintenance Further control of activities likely to cause a fire
Fire safety or fire protection measures for consideration to reduce risk of fire (Parts 1 and 2) Average risk ( 21 60 ) The fire safety and fire protection survey and risk assessment indicates your school is at an average level of risk with regard to the incidence of fire and environment and buildings. A sprinkler system is recommended. You may also wish to consider: Improved building security measures Improved site security measures Better building and equipment maintenance Improved control of activities likely to cause a fire Improved procedures to ensure that buildings are cleared of materials that can be used for arson (Note: a sprinkler system may act as a deterrent to arsonists, but primarily acts to prevent a small fire growing)
Fire safety or fire protection measures for consideration to reduce risk of fire (Parts 1 and 2) High Risk ( 61 85 ) The fire safety and fire protection survey and risk assessment indicates your school is at a high level of risk with regard to the incidence of fire and environment and buildings. Sprinklers should be provided. You may also wish to consider: More building security measures More site security measures including, good window locks, intruder detection CCTV Security staff / guards good perimeter fencing Car parks well lit and overlooked etc Doors secure against all but the most determined intruders Windows and roof-lights protected against intruders etc Better building and equipment maintenance Control of activities likely to cause a fire Buildings cleared of materials that can be used for arson
Parts 1 and 2 Reduce risk of fire. Details the measures to be taken to reduce or mitigate the risk
Fire safety or fire protection measures for consideration to reduce risk of injury, damage, and consequences (if a fire does occur) (Part 3 and 4) Low risk ( 0 20 ) The fire safety and fire protection survey and risk assessment indicates your school is at a low level of risk with regard to the risk of injury, damage, and consequences (if a fire does occur). Sprinklers may be beneficial. You may also wish to consider: An improved automatic fire detection and alarm system Improved procedures to ensure doors are shut at night Secure storage (fire cupboards) for documents and coursework Better communications with local fire brigade Contingency plans, for example for use of alternative buildings Better planning, training and more frequent drills
Fire safety or fire protection measures for consideration to reduce risk of injury, damage, and consequences (if a fire does occur) (Part 3 and 4) Average risk ( 21 50 ) The fire safety and fire protection survey and risk assessment indicates your school is at an average level of risk with regard to the risk of injury, damage, and consequences (if a fire does occur). A sprinkler system is recommended. You may also wish to consider: An improved automatic fire detection and alarm system Additional fire compartmentalization Procedures to ensure doors are shut at night Secure storage (fire cupboards) for documents and coursework Better communications with local fire brigade Contingency plans put in place for use of alternative buildings Better planning, training and more frequent drills
Fire safety or fire protection measures for consideration to reduce risk of injury, damage, and consequences (if a fire does occur) (Part 3 and 4) High Risk ( 51 145 ) The fire safety and fire protection survey and risk assessment indicates your school is at a high level of risk with regard to the risk of injury, damage, and consequences (if a fire does occur). Sprinklers should be provided. You should also consider: An automatic fire detection and alarm system Additional fire compartmentalization Procedures to ensure doors are shut at night Secure storage (fire cupboards) for documents and coursework Better communications with local fire brigade Contingency plans put in place for use of alternative buildings Better planning, training and more frequent drills Controls on the number of people using the building
Parts 3 and 4 Fire safety and protection measures. Details the measures to be taken to reduce or mitigate the risk
Total Overall score for school Low risk Proposed overall scoring The fire safety and fire protection survey and risk assessment indicates your school is at a low level of risk. Sprinklers may be beneficial. Average risk Low risk 0 40 Average risk 41 100 High risk 101 230 The fire safety and fire protection survey and risk assessment indicates your school is at an average level of risk. A sprinkler system is recommended. High Risk The fire safety and fire protection survey and risk assessment indicates your school is at a high level of risk. Sprinklers should be provided..
BB100 TOOL KIT ASSESSMENTS The toolkit assessments have been completed by all 3 councils The results have been forwarded to our arson officers for compilation and analysis Schools have been graded according to the results as either High Risk, Average risk, Low risk Results have been fed back to the 3 councils Individual school results will be given to each school by their respective council Note: Results for an individual school can be higher than expected but may be affected by many factors that are out of their direct control.
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