Fire Safety, Fire Procedures and Three Schools Policy Date Originated December 2010 Issue Number 3 Last Revision Date October 2013 Date of Review by Governors 4 April 2014 This policy is endorsed by This policy is owned by This policy is maintained by ISI Reference The Governors and the Heads Bursar Deputy Bursar A11 Page 1 of 15 Last updated October 2011 Bursar\Policies\Fire Safety, Fire Procedures &
PART ONE FIRE SAFETY INTRODUCTION Our priority is to minimise the risk to life and to reduce injury by maintaining the physical fire safety of the school, in ensuring that staff, pupils and visitors do not add to the fire risk and through safe evacuation of our buildings if a fire breaks out. The fire safety policy, procedures and risk assessments at Bedales schools are designed to help our community to respond calmly and effectively in the event that fire breaks out in one of our buildings. ROLE OF THE SCHOOL FIRE SAFETY MANAGER The Deputy Bursar (Facilities) is the designated School Fire Safety Manager, who is responsible for ensuring that: The fire safety policy is kept under regular review by Governors and the SMT. The fire safety policy is promulgated to the entire school community. Everyone in the school (including visitors and contractors) are given clear written instructions on where they should go in the event of fire. Records are kept of the fire induction training given to new staff and pupils. Procedures and arrangements for emergency evacuation are regularly tested and lessons absorbed. Fire risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. Fire prevention measures are meticulously followed. Fire procedures and risk assessments are reviewed on each occasion that a building is altered, extended or rebuilt, or when new buildings are acquired Records are kept of all fire practices, including night practice evacuations from boarding accommodation. Certificates for the installation and maintenance of fire-fighting systems and equipment are kept. Page 2 of 15 Last updated October 2011 Bursar\Policies\Fire Safety, Fire Procedures &
BEDALES EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE All new staff and pupils, all contractors and visitors are shown the following notice: 1. If you discover a fire, break the glass in the nearest alarm point to set off the alarm or shout: Fire Fire Fire. Leave the building by the nearest exit. 2. If you are responsible for a class, make them leave quietly with you. No one should talk or run. Make your way to the nominated assembly point for the building you are in and as detailed on the map at Appendix One. 3. Do not take anything with you, and do not allow the pupils to take anything. Shut doors and windows behind you. 4. If you have a disabled pupil in your class, you should move him or her downstairs, using one of the special evacuation chairs if you are trained to do so, following the procedures outlined in his/ her Personal Emergency Egress Plan (PEEP). 5. The School Fire Safety Manager or his nominated deputy will investigate each alarm and will summon the Emergency Services if there is a real fire. 6. If the alarm is false and there is no fire, the school Fire Safety Manager or his nominated deputy will, once he or she is satisfied it is safe, give the all clear and staff and students will be allowed back into the building concerned. 7. Should there be a real fire, or there be other reason to do so, the School Fire Safety Manager or his nominated deputy will sound the whole school evacuation siren. On hearing this siren all staff and students are to make their way to the Whole School Assembly Point (the Astroturf Pitch) and line up as per diagram on page 13. 8. At the Whole School Assembly Point a register of all pupils and staff should be taken and anyone who is waiting to be evacuated from a designated refuge or who is missing should be reported immediately to the Managing Head of Bedales or to the Deputy Bursar (Facilities) who will inform the Fire Brigade accordingly. On no account should anyone return to any building until given permission by the Fire and Emergency Services. 9. All staff and students must remain at the Whole School Assembly Point until the all clear is given by either the Fire Brigade or the School Fire Safety Manager or his deputy. 10. After each fire practice the Fire Safety Officer will convene a short meeting to ensure that all procedures were followed correctly and to identify any lessons to be learned. Page 3 of 15 Last updated October 2011 Bursar\Policies\Fire Safety, Fire Procedures &
DUNHURST FIRE EVACUATION PROCEDURE 1. If you discover a fire then sound the automatic alarm, by breaking the glass covered switch (if the sensors have not already set the alarm off). Alert anyone nearby & then evacuate the building. Do not hesitate and do not attempt to tackle the fire yourself. 2. The fire alarm is a continuous sounding of a siren. If the alarm sounds you should vacate the buildings immediately, leading pupils and visitors in your care out in an orderly manner, and proceed to the Assembly Areas on the Playground. 3. The Deputy Head, or in their absence a Senior Colleague, will take charge of the Fire Assembly. The role of the staff is defined later. 4. When the alarm sounds teachers in charge of pupils should lead their class out in an orderly manner. Leave bags and coats, close doors, follow the designated route to the assembly point on the playgrounds, and do not re-enter any building. It is important the classes being taught away from the main building (for example PE) are able to be contacted by phone. Responsibility for informing such classes will be with Reception staff. 5. In the event of a real fire, when we may not be able to use the Playgrounds to assemble due to the proximity of the fire then the contingency procedure is to re-assemble on Cobb s Field with staff helping to supervise and register all pupils present. The instruction to do this will be given by the Person i/c of the Fire Assembly. However, if you cannot gain access to the playgrounds due to obvious smoke/fire in that area then staff should lead pupils immediately to the alternate Assembly point on Cobb s Field. 6. Designated teachers (see later) are to take charge of their assigned form group at the Assembly Areas, checking attendance against the fire list. The form lists and the daily fire list will be distributed by Reception staff. 7. Teachers without a form group, visitors, who must signed in at reception on entry to the school, and all support staff, will register with Reception staff or the Heads Secretary. 8. In the event of a real fire the School will take advice and direction from the Fire Brigade once they have been summoned. Page 4 of 15 Last updated October 2011 Bursar\Policies\Fire Safety, Fire Procedures &
9. No one is to leave the Assembly area or re-enter a building during the drill, unless asked to do so and nobody should re-enter a building under any circumstances during a real fire. 10. After each fire practice the Fire Safety Officer will convene a short meeting to ensure that all procedures were followed correctly and to identify any lessons to be learned. Page 5 of 15 Last updated October 2011 Bursar\Policies\Fire Safety, Fire Procedures &
DUNANNIE FIRE EVACUATION PROCEDURE All new staff and pupils, all contractors and visitors are shown the following notice: 1. If you discover a fire then sound the automatic alarm, by breaking the glass covered switch (if the sensors have not already set the alarm off). Alert anyone nearby and then evacuate the building. Do not hesitate and do not attempt to tackle the fire yourself. 2. The fire alarm is a continuous sounding of a siren. If the alarm sounds you should vacate the buildings immediately, leading pupils and visitors in your care out in an orderly manner, and proceed to the Orchard Assembly Area. 3. The Head of Dunannie, or in her absence the Senior Teacher, will take charge of the Fire Assembly. 4. When the alarm sounds teachers in charge of pupils should lead their class out in an orderly manner. Leave bags and coats, close doors, follow the designated route to the assembly point in the orchard and do not re-enter any building. It is important that the children being taught out of the classroom are brought to the orchard by their teachers. Appointed sweepers check designated areas of Dunannie to ensure they are clear. 5. In the event of a real fire, or incident, when we may not be able to cross the playground or use the orchard to assemble due to the proximity of the fire, then the contingency procedure is to re-assemble on the Dunhurst Sports Field with staff helping to supervise and register all pupils present. The instruction to do this will be given by the person in charge of the Fire Assembly. 6. At the Assembly point, class teachers take charge of their classes in the orchard, checking attendance against the fire list. The class lists and the daily fire list will be distributed by Reception. Pupils will form a single line and staff must ensure conduct is of a high standard and that the class is silent and listening to instructions. 7. Teachers without a class, visitors, who must have signed in at Reception on entry to the School, and all support staff, will register with Reception staff or the Heads Secretary. 8. In the event of a real fire the School will take advice and direction from the Fire Brigade once they have been summoned. 9. No one is to leave the orchard or re-enter a building during the drill, unless asked to do so and nobody should re-enter a building under any circumstances during a real fire. Page 6 of 15 Last updated October 2011 Bursar\Policies\Fire Safety, Fire Procedures &
10. After each fire practice the Fire Safety Officer will convene a short meeting to ensure that all procedures were followed correctly and to identify any lessons to be learned. Page 7 of 15 Last updated October 2011 Bursar\Policies\Fire Safety, Fire Procedures &
BRIEFING NEW STAFF AND PUPILS PART TWO FIRE SAFETY PROCEDURES All our new staff (teaching and non-teaching alike) and all new pupils, including EYFS pupils, are given a briefing on the school s emergency evacuation procedures on their first day at Bedales Schools. We show them where the emergency exits and escape routes are located, and walk with them to the outside assembly point. Fire action notices are displayed on the walls of all rooms and in all corridors, and we make certain that everyone knows what they look like, and where they should go on hearing the fire alarm. All new staff are shown how to activate the fire alarms if they see or smell a fire. The safe evacuation of everyone - staff and pupils alike, is our priority. Protecting property comes second. No one should attempt to fight a fire at the expense of their own, or anyone else s safety. We offer fire awareness INSET training, including the basic use of fire extinguishers, to all staff during their first term. We also offer regular refresher training. No one should attempt to use a fire extinguisher before he or she has been trained in its use. SUMMONING THE FIRE BRIGADE The School Office is manned between 8.30am and 5.00pm during weekdays in term-time and between 8.30am and 4.30pm during half terms and holidays apart from the Christmas and Easter closedowns. The master panel that shows the location of all the alarm call points on the networked alarm system in the school buildings is physically located in the Facilities office. The Facilities Office is always given advance warning of fire practices. If the alarm goes off for any other reason, the staff have standing instructions to summon the Fire and Emergency Service at once. One of the members of the Facilities Staff is on duty or on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year, including public holidays. He/She has standing instructions to summon the Fire and Emergency Services if the alarms go off outside the hours that the Facilities Office is staffed, (unless warned of a planned fire practice). VISITORS AND CONTRACTORS All visitors and contractors are required to sign in at Reception, where they are issued with a visitor s badge, which should be worn at all times that they are on school property. They are made aware of the emergency evacuation notice (see above) and are shown the way to the assembly point. Page 8 of 15 Last updated October 2011 Bursar\Policies\Fire Safety, Fire Procedures &
When large numbers of visitors are at the school for open days, plays, concerts, exhibitions etc a brief announcement is made advising them of the location of the emergency exits that they should use in the event of the alarms sounding. DISABLED STAFF, PUPILS OR VISITORS We have a special one to one induction on fire safety for disabled pupils and their carers and for disabled members of staff or visitors. We have designated safe refuge points on every floor of every building, with signs advising of their location, (usually in a stair well). When the fire alarm is sounded, it is the responsibility of the carer of a disabled person to take him or her to the refuge point and activate the relevant PEEP. The teacher will ensure that the name of the disabled person and his or her carer, together with the location of their safe refuge point, are passed to the School Fire Safety Manager, the Bursar, or the Head of the relevant School as soon as he or she reaches the assembly point. It is the responsibility of the School Fire Safety Manager, the Bursar or the head of the relevant school to ensure that this information is passed as soon as possible to the Fire and Emergency Service, although it is the school s responsibility to ensure the safe evacuation of everyone. RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHING STAFF Teaching staff are responsible for escorting their pupils safely out of the building in silence and in an orderly fashion. They are responsible for conducting a head count on arrival at the assembly point, and for ensuring that the name of anyone who cannot be accounted for (and, if possible, their likely location) is passed immediately to the Head of the relevant School, the School Fire Safety Manager or to the Bursar. It is the responsibility of the Head of the Relevant School, the School Fire Safety Manager or the Bursar to ensure that this information is passed to the Fire and Emergency service as soon as they arrive. On no account should anyone return to a burning building. RESPONSIBILITIES OF FIRE MARSHALS We have at least one trained Fire Marshal in every building and boarding house. Fire Marshals are generally members of the non-teaching staff, such as Technicians, Matrons, Maintenance, Security and Administrative staff who do not have specific duties in the event of fire or other emergency for looking after pupils, (although members of the teaching staff may also opt to be trained as Fire Marshals). All Fire Marshals are competent persons who have been trained to provide safety assistance in the event of a fire. Fire Marshals receive regular refresher training. FIRE PRACTICES Page 9 of 15 Last updated October 2011 Bursar\Policies\Fire Safety, Fire Procedures &
We hold at least one fire practice every term at Bedales Schools. We also practice a night-time evacuation of the boarding houses every term. This combined with a programme of inducting new staff and pupils with emergency escape procedures and the presence of trained Fire Marshals in every building helps to ensure that the school can be safely evacuated in the event of a fire. FIRE PREVENTION MEASURES We have the following fire prevention measures in place at Bedales Schools: Escape Routes and Emergency Exits There are at least two escape routes from every part of all buildings Fire notices and evacuation signs are displayed in every room, corridor and stairwell. Fires extinguishers (of the appropriate type), smoke/heat detectors and fire hoses are located in every building in accordance with the recommendations of our professional advisors. They can be manually activated by breaking a glass panel, and are automatically activated when smoke/heat builds up. Smoke control systems are located in our boarding accommodation. All stairs, passages and emergency exits are illuminated by emergency lighting. Automatic door closers that are activated by the fire alarms are fitted in some buildings and on doors in or leading onto escape routes. The master panel for the alarm system is located in the Facilities Office and shows the location of a fire. It is fitted with an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) Alarms sound in all parts of the buildings. In the following areas they are supplemented by visual alarms (red flashing lights): Sound-proofed music practice rooms The swimming pool The DT workshop The Theatre Sports Hall Keeping fire routes and exits clear at all times. The Domestic Manager is responsible for unlocking the buildings in the morning, when he removes bolts, padlocks and security devices from all emergency exits, checks that escape routes are not obstructed and reports defects. Page 10 of 15 Last updated October 2011 Bursar\Policies\Fire Safety, Fire Procedures &
Testing all fire alarms weekly (and recording all tests and defects). This is the responsibility of the Facilities Operations Manager, who also arranges for an ISO9001 certified/bafe approved contractor to carry out: Monthly checks of fire doors, automatic door closures and emergency lights, Six monthly professional check on fire detection and warning equipment, An annual service of alarms, smoke detectors, emergency lights, sprinklers, smoke control systems and fire extinguishers and hoses. Records of all tests are kept in the Facilities office. Records kept that all displays in corridors, theatre scenery, stage curtains and props and gym crash mats are treated with fire retardant spray. Plans showing the location of fire hydrants, gas and electricity shut off points are displayed in fire proof glass fronted display boards next to the entrance of each building. The kitchen is fitted with heat alarms and 30 minute fire doors that close automatically when the fire alarms sound. Electrical Safety The School has current electrical test certificates for all its buildings. It uses NICEIC qualified Electrical Engineers to inspect and maintain its electrical installations all of which meet 17 th Edition NICEIC regulations. Regular portable appliance testing takes place. A member of the Facilities Team has been trained in this role. Records of all tests are kept in the Facilities office. The heads of Science and Design check that all Scientific and Design equipment is switched off at the end of the school day. All computers, projectors, printers and electronic whiteboards have been set to switch off automatically every evening. The Catering Manager checks that all kitchen equipment is switched off at the end of the day. Page 11 of 15 Last updated October 2011 Bursar\Policies\Fire Safety, Fire Procedures &
Lightning Protection All lightning protection and earthing conforms to BS 6651-1999. It is tested annually by a specialist contractor. Records of all tests are kept in the Facilities Office. Gas Safety All gas appliances (boilers, kitchen equipment etc) are regularly maintained and serviced by Gas Safe Registered Engineers. Records of all tests are kept in the Facilities Office. Landlord s gas safety certificates are held for all school domestic accommodation. All kitchen equipment is switched off at the end of service. All laboratories are checked daily to ensure that the central gas supply is turned off. The cylinder gas for the DT workshop is switched off at the end of each day. Safe Storage We ensure that flammable materials used in teaching or maintenance are locked in purpose-made, flame-proof containers at the end of every day. Rubbish and Combustible Materials Flammable rubbish is stored away from buildings in the secured rubbish compound. Combustible materials used in teaching, catering, maintenance, grounds and caretaking are stored in flame proof cupboards. LETTING OR HIRING THE SCHOOL Our standard contractual terms, that we use for letting and hiring the school cover fire safety and specify that the hirer should certify that he/she has read and understood the school s fire safety policy and procedures. The Lettings Manager and a member of the Facilities department are always on duty when the school is let or hired for an outside function or event. Page 12 of 15 Last updated October 2011 Bursar\Policies\Fire Safety, Fire Procedures &
PART THREE FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT The School s Fire Risk Assessments meet the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (the FSO). Specifically they identify: The hazards The people at risk The measures to evaluate, remove, reduce and protect from the risk The measures needed to record, plan, inform, instruct and train people in risk reduction or removal The arrangements for reviewing the assessment All fire risk assessments follow a standard grid procedure for evaluating risk, and we are progressively updating them to follow the format of PAS 79: 2012. At Bedales Schools, we use simple line diagrams to supplement the grids. Bedales Schools have fire risk assessments which are updated every 3 years, or more frequently if significant changes are made to the interior of buildings, or new buildings are bought or added. Copies of Bedales Schools fire risk assessments are available for all staff to read, together with this document. Any comments or suggestions for improvement are always welcome. All Heads of Department should ensure that they and their staff read the sections applicable to them. Page 13 of 15 Last updated October 2011 Bursar\Policies\Fire Safety, Fire Procedures &
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Fire Alarm: Whole School Evacuation Procedures If you hear the whole school fire alarm, proceed quietly and calmly to the Astroturf pitch. Assembly points are as follows: 3 4 5 6.1 6.2 3 4 5 6.1 Basketball Court Steephurst Boys Flat Accounts Admin Bedales Services Catering Domestic Estates/Facilities HR IT Nurses House Staff, Tutors and Matrons House Staff, Tutors and Matrons Day Girls House Staff, Tutors and Matrons Day Boys Entrance to Astroturf Teaching Staff & Technicians 3 4 5 6.1 3 4 5 6.1 Line up in silence and wait for the register to be called by House Staff. Teaching staff will be checked by HoDs reporting to Deputy Managing Head, or in his absence, the Chair of Common Room. Support staff to be checked by Facilities Admin after confirmation from each manager that staff are accounted for. Once all names are checked, and the Fire Officer gives the go-ahead, leave in an orderly way as follows: Support staff; teaching staff; day girls; day boys; Steephurst; 6.2; boys flat. Please note that these arrangements apply for whole school evacuation for fire or any other emergency. Local area evacuation procedures are posted in the buildings concerned. As a rule of thumb, exit the building and move to the nearest safe, open area. Bursar\Policies\Fire Safety, Fire Procedures & Page 15 of 15 Last updated October 2011