Fire Protection For Schools

Effective fire protection for schools keeps staff and pupils safe and is an essential part of the government regulations covering school premises.

School buildings containing large numbers of youngsters, some of whom may not respond to an emergency like older competent persons, need highly effective protection when a fire breaks out.

Armstrong Priestley is an industry leader in fire safety equipment. We have over twenty years of experience providing a safe environment for staff and pupils in primary and secondary schools.

Our expert team can advise your school’s governing body on how to save lives and protect property.

YOU CAN CONTACT THE TEAM HERE

Armstrong Priestley’s work with schools

Our educational client portfolio totals over 200 school projects and includes primary and secondary schools.

We have extensive experience working on newly built schools, liaising with architects and contractors to ensure complete protection throughout the school premises.

Our sprinkler systems can also be installed in new buildings and schools that are being refurbished.

Arson is a significant problem for many of our customers in the education sector.

Intentional fires often occur outside school hours, and we work with governing bodies and local authorities to provide effective fire protection even when schools are unoccupied, and no one is around to raise the alarm.

You can read more about our work with schools here.

Why our sprinkler systems are ideal for school environments

Armstrong Priestley automatic sprinklers are ideal for use in schools because:

Sprinklers are 99% effective in controlling fires or limiting them to specific areas in the school
Our sprinklers use water mist or non-toxic fire suppressants that are highly effective but also non-toxic
The use of sprinklers allows more time to evacuate school buildings safely
The fine mist dispersed by our sprinkler heads is highly effective while causing less water damage than fire hoses
Our sprinkler systems can be part of fire detection and alarm systems. They can be connected to the local fire station to ensure that no blaze goes unnoticed even in an empty school

Other Fire Safety Measures required in schools

Sprinkler systems smother flames and control blazes until fire professionals arrive, however, government regulations require schools to implement a variety of fire safety measures to ensure the safety of staff and pupils. These include ;

The design of school buildings for maximum fire safety

Fire doors made of fire-resistant materials are integral to fire safety, providing escape routes and limiting fire spread.

We can advise on building regulations relating to fire doors.

Fire extinguishers in schools

When fire extinguishers are placed at strategic points and potential hotspots in the school buildings, they complement the fire sprinkler system and can be used to deal with small fires.

It is essential to service fire extinguishers regularly. Extinguishers must be easily accessible but this means they can easily be tampered with so it is important that they are checked regularly to ensure that they are ready for use if fire breaks out.

A responsible person must always be deployed to use fire extinguishers.

Fire safety plans for schools

All schools should have a fire safety plan and regular fire safety training.

Government regulations dictate that schools appoint fire marshalls, perform regular fire drills and practise emergency evacuation procedures. Staff training should ensure that everyone is aware of escape routes and fire assembly points.

Fire alarm systems

Fire alarm systems give warning of fire throughout the whole school premises.

Our sprinklers have a role in fire detection as they are activated by heat. They can be connected to a school-wide alarm system.

Protection from fire hazards

Schools have potential fire hazards and ‘hot spots’ like any other workplace.

Kitchens, server rooms, photocopiers, and science laboratories may all contain highly flammable materials. These locations require fire risk assessments and general fire precautions to be in place at all times.

Armstrong Priestley: First choice for fire safety in schools

Armstrong Priestley was established in Leeds in the 1970s. Since then we have grown into one of the UK’s leading providers of fire safety equipment.

Our service to our customers includes fire risk assessments, sprinkler system design, fabrication, and installation. We also offer maintenance and servicing that can be performed with minimum education disruption.

Contact your nearest office to learn more about our fire sprinkler systems, or complete our online form here.