Guidance on fire safety for classroom checklist
Fire Exits
Fire exits must be unobstructed an easily opened. The clear route to the fire exit door must be at least as wide as the exit door itself. Test the door actually opens when you press the bar or paddle. It is not uncommon for little-used doors to stick. Fire exit doors must not be locked when the area they cover is occupied. Opening the door should only require a single action (e.g. pushing on the bar or paddle). No other action should be required before or during the pushing phase.
fire exit obstructed by pedestal fan & plastic sheet and cupboards & coats impinging on width of exit route
group work table obstructing evacuation route
PEEPS
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) are required for all people (students & staff) which have an impairment (permanent or temporary) which could impact their safe evacuation from the building.The PEEP will detail how the individual will evacuate and what assistance is required to enable this.
PEEPs should be in place for all students and staff with permanent or temporary impairments
Fire Action Notices
Check that a suitable fire action notice is in the room.
fire action notice including mandatory pictogram at the top. note: location of the fire assembly point has not been included, this is required
Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers must be easily accessible and kept in working order if they are to be both available an effective when needed. Misuse of a fire extinguisher, such as using it as a door stop, increases the chances that it will neither be available or work should it be needed in an emergency. Ensure fire extinguishers are on their stand or wall bracket (they must not be stood on the floor). Check that the pin is correctly located to prevent the trigger being operated. The pin should be held in place by a plastic tag. If the extinguisher has a pressure gauge check the needle is in the green portion.
pressurised extinguisher gauge, just in the useable range
extinguisher removed from bracket and used as a door stop
plastic tag broken and pin removed from Co2 extinguisher
Storage of Flammable items
Check that no flammable items (paper, cardboard, plastics etc.) are stored or have been placed adjacent to an ignition source (e.g. heaters, radiators, kilns, incandescent lights etc.). Any highly flammable materials must be stored in fire-restisting structures (e.g metal tins, filing cabinets etc.).
chair scorched through contact with convection heater
electrical applance flexes in contact with radiator
flammable items stored on top of a propritary flammable storage cupboard. Note also the unsuppported extension lead directly aove it - ignition and fuel sources in close proximity!
flammable items stored against a radiator
Fire Doors
Fire doors must be kept in the state specified in the mandatory blue sign on the door. Most fire doors will be fitted with a door closing device. These must fully close the door into the frame. Fire doors must never be held open by anything other than an automatic release device operated by the fire alarm system.
fire door keep locked mandatory sign
fire door being held open with a wedge
storage unit positioned to hold fire door open
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