One of the most effective ways to safeguard schools against the devastating effects of fire is through the installation of sprinkler systems. These systems serve as a crucial line of defence, protecting lives and property by detecting and extinguishing fires before they spread.
Installing sprinkler protection in a property has many benefits, like reducing environmental and social impacts. Despite this, Parliament is still reluctant to pass legislation to install sprinklers in all English schools.
Over 20 years ago, the Scottish and Welsh governments made it mandatory for every new school and residential care building to have sprinkler protection. In Wales, this applies to centrally funded schools. But in England, the law only requires care homes to have sprinklers. Most fire safety campaigners find this decision illogical.
Zurich Insurance has been asking the Government for decades to make English schools safer, like those in the rest of Britain. But nothing has changed.
Our data shows that bigger and older schools are more at risk of fire. This is especially true for schools with a kitchen or area that increases the chance of a fire or poses a fire risk, like secondary schools with complex and dangerous equipment.
Vaping risk
Some people think schools are more at risk of fire now due to the amount of electronic equipment in them, and an increase in young people vaping.
A survey by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) shows that about 15% of children aged 11 to 15 and more than a third of 16- to 17-year-olds have vaped. Disposable vapes contain lithium-ion batteries that can be a serious fire risk if damaged or not properly disposed of.
While schools ban vaping in or around school premises, young people may still carry them. A recent freedom of information request to Fire and Rescue services and local councils shows that there were around 300 fires in primary and secondary schools in 2023.
The value of schools
Even one school fire is too many. Fires can be harmful to humans and financially crippling for schools or local authorities with tight budgets.
In rural areas, a school is often more than just a school. It's a community hub, possibly with a library, an adult learning centre, an out of school club, and other uses. This makes the building vital for the community, and the impact of losing it is significant.
Zurich data shows that in 2023 school fires caused on average more than £128,000 worth of damage. In just three years up to 2023, there were 115 fires in schools, causing over £27 million in damage.
The risk of modern methods and materials
Sprinklers in schools are arguably even more important with the use of non-traditional building methods and materials. Sprinklers can mitigate emerging fire risks associated with buildings made with modern methods of construction. This is rapidly changing the way we construct and refurbish schools, with increasing use of combustible materials.
Timber frame and modular construction might have a lower carbon impact than some more traditional building methods, but it is also clear that such contemporary construction methods can be less resilient to fire, underlining the urgent need for mandatory sprinkler protection in all new-build schools.
Technical bulletin
In the early 2000s, we realised that sprinkler protection needed to be stronger and more reliable because schools had become more combustible and hazardous. So, the RISC Authority and The FPA decided a technical bulletin was needed to address this.
The technical bulletin was published in 2013 and gives guidance on implementing sprinkler protection design for the fire protection industry. It was agreed that schools in Ordinary Hazard Group 1 can have a stored water supply for 30 minutes. But this decision wasn't taken lightly. We need to ensure the sprinkler system is always available and reliable.
Valves that could stop the flow of water, including the tank infill valve, need to be monitored centrally. This includes any fire signals too. This is to make sure the fire service can respond quickly.
The technical bulletin is designed to protect schools where infants to secondary and SEN students are taught. It is not meant for higher education like colleges and universities.
Every building needs a full risk assessment. This ensures the right occupancy and category of goods are used in the protection design.
Effective sprinkler systems
Zurich Resilience Solutions (ZRS) undertake regular inspections on educational buildings and what is striking is the lack of proper maintenance on sprinkler systems. It is crucial to inspect, test, and maintain (ITM) all fire equipment regularly. That way, you know it’s ready to use and will work when needed.
A property owner or tenant’s responsibilities must be clear, and having local sprinkler contractors available is essential. Otherwise, the systems could be considered inadequate and unsuitable.
Another risk is that a sprinkler system that has been designed to the requirements of the technical bulletin could in fact have major failings. This leaves the system exposed.
Zurich Resilience Solutions offers training and education on the requirements of maintaining sprinkler systems and undertakes design reviews and post and pre-construction on-site assessments. Find out more.
