School Fire Doors...

[goodwin24]

Hello,
I am new to fire safety really, I've never really taken it into consideration, until now... I have been into my English lesson and they have two fire doors, one leading to one set of stairs, and one to another room, which then leads to another set of stairs.  However, the door leading to the other room which is leading to the second set of stairs is locked both at break time and lunch time.  However, whenever we have english after break or lunch, it is kept locked for part of the lesson.  So, if there was a fire at stair case one, and we needed to get to the second room to get down stair case two, when there was no teacher in there to unlock the door, we would probably either suffacate, or burn.  I was just wondering... Is this legal?

[goodwin24]

Yeh...  I'm sure I'll live with my spelling off suffocation.  Anyway.... I was wondering if anyone had a real answer that might be of some help, no offence to Colin...  But the answer was slightly... cruddy  Any legislations or sections of fire acts would be greatly appreciated!

[wee brian]

The practical way forward would be to speak to your headteacher (politely). If you don't like the answer contact the local Fire Brigade or maybe a parent govenor of the School.

Some doors need to be kept unloked and some don't.

As for the spelling I've become so nervous of Colin that I have taken to spell checking my posts.

[AnthonyB]

The utter cynic in me would reply that the school & local authority aren't realy bothered about it & neither would the fire authority. After all it's been like that for the last 50 years and no no ones complained or died - thats my experience anyway....

More usefully if you want a basic insight into fire safety requirements & legislation the link below takes you to a online government guide to the current rules:

http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/fire/

[Chris Houston]

Your question may not be as simple as it seems.

What is acceptable or not in a place of work, is determined, mainly, by a Fire Safety Risk Assessment.  That said, the said Risk Assessment is only a requirement because it is a place of work.

That said, my personal opinion is that, if these are fire exits you are talking about, it would never be acceptable for them to be locked shut while people are on the premises.

But it's a complicated issue and one that cannot be simply addressed with out much more information.

I'd suggest you raise the issue with the head teacher.  If you are a child, perhaps get your parent or guardian to raise the issue.

[eddy orr]

There is a document that provides guidance to fire safety within schools
Fire Safety — Managing School Facilities Guide 6
ISBN0 11 271040 9 c£8.50
As always it can be viewed for free at
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/_doc/971/SBfire_safety_guide[1].pdf

This states that it is preferable to have an alternate route, if not escape should be within  a minute to a minute and a half. This can be checked by walking the route slowly.
The documents also states that if there are fire exits provided they should be kept clear and unlocked. There are exceptions to this such as locking escapes at night for security, but keeping others open for night schools, community use etc but an assessment of the escape needs has to be undertaken.
In short if it was designed an alternative escape route it shouldn’t be locked.

[Brian Catton]

I think for a pupil who is studying english Goodwin appears to be very observant and mindful of building design. Perhaps he/or she could tell us whether or not stair 1 is a protected staircase discharging direct to open air or into a protected route to open air, travel distances are within accepted limits or some compensating features are installed . I bet he/or she can.
But perhaps not or they would not be querying the locking of the other door. Now perhaps I am being sinical (american spelling Colin)
I think this is actually a Scottish Fire Engineer who is going to an school in England to learn English. (private lessons that he/she has heard are cheaper than in Scotland, as the Scots have to import the teachers)

[Chris Houston]

Gents,

Much as I've chuckled along with the Proclaimers chit-chat in here, I'm going to prune out all the "joke" comments to try and keep this topic "on thread".

Hope I'm not upsetting anyone, if so, let me know and I'll advise of the complaint resolution options.

[colin todd]

I think, Christopher, the point is that the topic or its author is a spoof.

[Chris Houston]

I think, Christopher, the point is that the topic or its author is a spoof.

Are spoofs not meant to be funny?  I must be missing something.

[colin todd]

You are. people took a potential spoof seriously. Thats why the rest of us treated it as a joke.

[Chris Houston]

Actually, Mr Goodwin is a 13 year old school pupil from Leicester.

You'd be surprised how much forum Moderators know

[colin todd]

Then I feel he should have his £10 returned, so that he can purchase alcohol and other illicit substances. The Board does not need subscriptions from kiddiewinkles if that is what he really is.

[Graeme]

Then I feel he should have his £10 returned, so that he can purchase alcohol .

Buckfast is the choice of the new generation.Pepsi NO MORE.(sorry getting on the proclaimers vibe again)

[colin todd]

Sorry to show my ignorance but whats buckfast?