notice boards in schools

[jasper]

Hi all,
I have a client who has identified the risk of open notice boards on corridors and staircases in his school. The problem is that the school cannot afford the purpose-built ones as they retail at approximately £350. Does anyone have any cheaper alternatives (except the obvious removal) i.e. fire resisting glazing, that will comply?

[dave bev]

jasper - limit the size and make sure that they are 'purged' regularly - so long as they are not likely to ignite other items in close proximity then is there a significant risk of fire spread and smoke logging? is there a 'management system' in place.

how about the dangers of small children self combusting? which is the greater threat?

if you really are seriously concerned about youngsters setting fire to the noticeboards i would have thought there may be many more serious issues to contend with?

dave bev

[wee brian]

There is some recomendation about sticking some sort of cover over them. (transparent and not too easy to ignite)

But to be honest I'm with dave on this. A notice board is unlikely to be a major problem. Perhaps limiting the size of them to something sensible and spacing them apart so that one will not ignite the next one is enough.

[colin todd]

There is a legitimate concern where the notice boards are in critical situations such as dead end corridors and staircases. We have an ad hoc agreement with a large met brigade regarding the area, location and circumstances in which notice boards can be used in a large university estate.

[Chris Houston]

Arson is a serious problem in schools, with fire's starting in cloakrooms (often opening into corridors) more often than would be expected.

[colin todd]

Yup, thats why you need to lock the little buggers in--see posting about school fire doors.

[potter2]

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/resourcesfinanceandbuilding/schoolbuildings/?310040945667732-7155efc3-7ecd-4a09-a5b2-bd3b798106c7
this almighty link gets you the answer to corridors,the universe and everything

[Ken Taylor]

Managing School Facilities Guide 6 'Fire Safety' tells schools: not to put displays down stairways on escape routes; to keep displays away from curtains, doors, exits, ceiling voids without fire barriers and heat-sourcees; and to try to keep displays in one area. Their hazard check-list also says that they can be sprayed with a fire retardant.

Former Building Bulletin 7 (of lamented departure) stated that no pin board may be fixed in a dead-end corridor.

Various Education Authorities have issued guidance on displays in the past even giving dimensions and distances from doorways, socket-outlets, light switches, etc.

School fire risk assessments should be taking all this into account - but in my experience schools (particularly at primary level) seem to be full of display material which, presumably, contributes to rapid fire spread in the numerous incidents of arson these days.