A Snapshot of Client Queries

We’ve picked three of the most interesting questions we’ve dealt with since our last issue, which may be useful if you ever find yourself in a similar situation at your school.

QUESTION: “We would like confirmation please about how many Fire Marshalls a school needs and what their responsibilities are? Does it depend on the size of the school i.e. the number of pupils? Please let us know as this is something we are putting in place.”

As a rough guide, it is recommended that schools have at least one fire marshal for each floor of the main school building, and each separate ancillary building, with extra cover in high-risk areas. These include science labs, DT/metalwork rooms and food tech rooms. Contingency measures should be put in place for sickness and other absences. You must also consider any on-site cafeteria or canteen with cooking facilities. A thorough, fire risk assessment should be undertaken and the results noted, along with details of the date and performance of fire drills, dates of fire marshal training and fire safety equipment testing and any other details relevant to fire safety within the school. With regards to training, there is no standard or statutory requirement that says someone has to be trained to a particular standard to be able to deliver fire marshal instruction. The requirement is that they are ‘competent’ to do so.

The HSE define a ‘competent person’ as: “A competent person is someone who has sufficient training and experience or knowledge and other qualities that allow them to assist you properly. The level of competence required will depend on the complexity of the situation and the particular help you need”. Competency is about having an appropriate mixture of training, knowledge and experience. A competent person will also know when they are stepping out of their comfort zone, i.e. It’s about knowing your limits and staying within them. The amount of training, knowledge and experience needed to deliver this type of training will vary, to some extent, with regard to the level of complexity of risk. Clearly, someone training fire marshals in a small office block will be different to someone training them in Canary Wharf. Likewise, in small primary schools, the risk is different to large, complex schools with issues with multiple old buildings or boarding. So, this really comes down to the SLT and the Caretaker’s judgement, i.e. do they feel competent to deliver it? Also, do they have extensive knowledge of the school in terms of layout and risk from a fire point of view (note: this is a benefit of an in-house trainer over an external one, as they will no doubt have far more knowledge of the school!). If so, then they should be fine. If not, then they should be asking for an external competent person to deliver the training. Sometimes, getting a good baseline from a contractor is a good starting point, then you can deliver in-house refreshers thereafter.

The list below is comprehensive – some of the responsibilities (i.e. determining fire assembly points, arranging and conducting fire drills etc) may be undertaken by facilities staff or SLT and not classroom teachers/assistants who are designated Fire Marshals. Responsibilities of a Fire Marshal:

  • Ensuring that all evacuation routes to be used in case of fire remain unobstructed;
  • Carrying out routine housekeeping to get rid of materials that pose the risk of a fire, such as rubbish;
  • Checking to see that hazardous/flammable materials are properly stored;
  • Making sure that fire safety signs are properly placed;
  • Ensuring that emergency evacuation signs are functioning properly;
  • Ensuring that all firefighting equipment is properly stored and regularly serviced;
  • Checking to see that fire detection equipment and fire alarms are functioning optimally every week;
  • Nominating deputies who will help ascertain that the building is fully compliant with fire safety regulations;
  • Mapping evacuation routes to be used in case of a fire;
  • Determining fire assembly points;
  • Arranging and conducting fire drills;
  • Training new employees on the fire safety protocols to be followed in the event of a fire;
  • Ensuring that electrical connections are tested for compliance with fire safety regulations; and
  • Maintaining records on any fire safety activities carried out in the building.

Responsibilities of a Fire Marshal in a Fire Emergency:

  • Raising the alarm when a fire starts;
  • Ensuring that fire doors and doors to other fireproof spaces are closed;
  • Ensuring that people who have vulnerabilities are assisted in evacuating in case of a fire safely;
  • Carrying out a roll call to ensure every person has been evacuated when a fire starts;
  • Liaising with emergency response personnel who respond at the scene of the fire; and
  • Using firefighting gear to curb the spread of the fire if it is safe to do so.

QUESTION: “We are currently reviewing our fire evacuation procedure. Currently, we have a set of gates that a group needs to get through. For security reasons, we have padlocked it but it's a combination padlock. Do we need to keep the gate unlocked or is it ok to have a combination padlock?”

There is a balance to be struck between ease of egress during an evacuation and security. A risk assessment should be taken and only if you can guarantee that in the event of an emergency, all staff will be able to recall the code (bearing in mind how people react when under stress) should you even consider a padlock. Another option would be to instal a lock which automatically opens when the alarm is sounded. The current guidance Fire Safety Risk Assessment Educational Premises states: 4.1 General principles Suitability of escape routes You should ensure that your escape routes are: • suitable; • easily, safely and immediately usable at all times; • adequate for the number of people likely to use them; • free from any obstructions, slip or trip hazards; • generally usable, without passing through doors requiring a key or code to unlock; and • available for access by the emergency services. B3 Door-fastening devices The relationship between the securing of doors against unwanted entry and the ability to escape through them easily in an emergency has often proved problematical. Careful planning and the use of quality materials remain the most effective means of satisfying both of these objectives. Any device that impedes people making good their escape, either by being unnecessarily complicated to manipulate or not being readily openable, will not be acceptable. Guidance on fire exits starts from the position that doors on escape routes should not be fitted with any locking devices (electrically operated or otherwise). However, it is accepted that in many cases the need for security will require some form of device that prevents unlimited access but still enables the occupants of a building or area to open the door easily if there is a fire. These devices can take many forms but, in the majority of cases, premises where there are members of the public present or others who are not familiar with the building should use panic exit bar devices (i.e. push bars or touch bars). See BS EN 112542 for further information.

QUESTION: “Should heaters and radiators be fitted with guards that prevent anyone from contacting hot surfaces? The radiators at school are non-electric, and what our Site Manager refers to as a 'wet system.' Is there a law with regards to this on whether these radiators need guards?”

The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 states: (4) In a special school, nursery school or teaching accommodation used by a nursery class in a school the surface temperature of any radiator, including exposed pipework, which is in a position where it may be touched by a pupil shall not exceed 43°C. If you find, following a risk assessment that none of your heating appliances ever exceed 43°C, then a cover is not required. If, however, this is not the case Handsam would recommend that appropriate covers are installed. There is some useful guidance on the Radiator Guard website: Most standard steel panel radiators can reach surface temperatures of 75˚C – hot enough to cause serious burns within seconds. Do I need Radiator Covers on all my radiators? It is important to assess the individual placement of each radiator around your building. Important things to consider are:

  • Location – Is the radiator located somewhere that young children will frequent? E.g. Classrooms, Main Hallways, Toilets; and
  • Placement of Radiators – Is the radiator situated near furniture which could cause a young/vulnerable person to become trapped or prevent them from moving away easily in the case of a fall?

It is worth noting that some environments will cover a standard panel radiator that has caused an issue, but will still leave others uncovered. However, this only acknowledges that they were aware of radiators being a problem and is effectively an admission of negligence in the case of an accident occurring.