Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996

[Fire Monkey]

Hello,

I recently did a FRA at a school who are using their fire alarm system to signal end of class and break times (I have come across this before). May I ask what you views on this are - it this acceptable and if not why? I can see that there is potential for confusion (fire occurs around the time staff and children expect to hear a bell and take no action when the bell continue as they were and do not evacuate as they assume is a mistake). Also would this be against the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 - I have been told that using one 'single' of a different purpose is not allowed but can't find any evidence to support this. In the FRA would I state it is against that act or the RRO (Fire Safety) or both and what priority would that be under - breach of legislation or best practice? Or this is more a 'comment' that could be made which does not require a Action Point?

Many thanks,

Monkey.

[SeaBass]

This practice is recognised in BB100 and many schools adopt it.  Lesson changes are at specified times and are expected by both staff and pupils. Bells should only sound for a few short bursts to signal lesson changes, as opposed to prolonged sounding in the event of a fire, so the risk are  minimal.  Furthermore, the schools should carry out fire drills so that the differences in signal are ingrained in occupants.

[AnthonyB]

Also permitted in BS5839-1:

"16.2.1.....k) Fire alarm sounders should not be used for purposes other than warning of
fire, unless the response required is identical to that required in the event of
fire (i.e. immediate evacuation by use of all escape routes). However, as an
established exception, the fire alarm signal may be used in schools to indicate
start or finish of predetermined periods. The duration of such signals should
not exceed five seconds."

The main breach of the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 in Schools used to be still using the original 240V 3-wire fire alarm/class change systems for fire warning. Most I've been too in recent years though have now either put separate 24V fire alarm systems in and either used these for class change as well or more commonly kept the 240V system for class change only.

[Fire Monkey]

Great - thanks for the clarification.