For those that have an interest in new school buildings.
The Department of Education has just published some standard designs for new school buildings. The introduction to the standard designs suggests that sprinklers are not required in the primary schools, which is contrary to previous advice given.
In addition the fire strategy document refers to BS 9999 2008 Code of Practice for Fire Safety in the Design, Management and use of Buildings as the guidance to use for new schools. Why is BB 100 Design for Fire Safety in Schools, not to be used? The introduction to BB100 by Jim Knight the then Minister of State for Schools and Learners states that his expectation was that all new schools will have sprinklers fitted.
I have not had the opportunity to fully compare the differences but travel distances in dead ends and two directions are greater than BB100.
The fire strategy document also states “emergency lighting is assumed in those areas used after school hours” presumably on the assumption that there will be enough natural light provided externally?
I have informed BAFSA of new design guidance and they are persuing the matter.
This is the link to the Department of Education web page which has links to the fire strategy document and at the bottom of the page links to the baseline designs of a 420 place school and a 1200 place school which show building plans.
http://www.education.gov.uk/b00213595/baseline-designs-how-the-designs-address-the-brief/fire-strategyRecent research has shown that there is between 1,400 and 1,800 fires in UK primary and secondary schools every year.
In my area the authority has supported the installation of sprinklers with a total of 15 new build schools now sprinklered. Their worth was proven recently when an excellent fire stop was achieved with one head activating to extinguish accidental fire starting in a prep room.
