Fire Safety Equipment for Schools – The Essentials
Schools are high traffic environments frequented by a range of people including teachers, students, parents, contractors and more. Fire safety is a crucial consideration with the potential to prevent loss of life and property damage. Whether installed during construction of a school or retrofitted at a later date, having functional and maintained equipment is of the utmost importance. Some of the most common areas in which fires occur in schools include staff rooms, communal kitchens, electrical switch rooms and areas in which equipment and/or chemicals are stored. In this blog post, Astute Fire will be sharing some insight into why fire safety equipment is so important within schools.
What does Fire Safety in Schools Involve?
Whilst fire sprinklers, alarms and extinguishers can help to alert those on site and control fire, attention should also be paid towards fire safety drills and procedures. It is important that all people on site have an understanding of what to do in an emergency situation such as a fire. Fire safety drills take around 15 minutes, and schools should conduct a drill involving all building occupants on an annual basis. This will ensure that both staff and students know how to react in a calm and orderly manner if an emergency should arise. Educational programs concerning fire safety can also help to bolster awareness throughout the school year.
Where do Fires Usually Occur in Schools?
Whilst many believe the classroom to be the most likely place for fire to occur, this is not always the case. Most school fires tend to occur within storage areas and other places containing large volumes of flammable material. They can also occur within areas containing electrical appliances, whether as a result of human error, faulty wiring or lack of maintenance. The best way of reducing the risk of fire in schools is to maintain a few basic precautions, such as carrying out regular cleaning of storage areas and engaging a fire safety professional for routine inspections.
Essential fire safety measures for schools include:
- Installation and ongoing maintenance of illuminated emergency exit signs
- Installation and maintenance of fire extinguishers at key areas around the school
- Adhering to best practice for the storage of hazardous materials
- Installation and maintenance of fire alarm systems, which sound a warning when a fire is detected
- Implementing a Fire Action Emergency Plan
- Maintaining a log of all fire safety equipment installed/located around the school
- Ensuring ongoing training and fire safety awareness amongst school staff, students and other site visitors
- Carrying out a fire drill at least once per year
What does fire safety training involve?
Many students may not understand how to safely and effectively use a fire extinguisher. Fire safety training can help in this regard, with trained fire professionals walking teachers and students through the process step by step whilst answering any questions they may have. Local fire brigade visits are a highlight of the year for many students, and can help to reinforce the importance of fire safety and the importance of looking out for possible hazards. Fire prevention and safety is a group effort, and by maintaining some basic precautions and awareness the risk of fire outbreaks in schools can be drastically reduced.
Fire Safety Equipment for Schools – Contact Astute Fire Today
Astute Fire supply and install a comprehensive range of fire safety equipment for Australian schools, in addition to carrying out testing and maintenance, inspections and more. Contact us today to learn more about our service offering and how we can help prevent and minimise the risk of fire.