Postcode lottery of school fire safety

 

Only 43% of Scotland's primary schools are fitted with life-saving smoke or heat detection systems.

The anomaly has arisen because the 32 local authorities responsible for fire safety in schools interpret the law on health and safety differently.

The figures have shocked parents and firefighters, who have called for urgent action to ensure that all primary schools are brought up to standard.

The vast majority of schools rely on "smash-the-glass" manual alarms, which mean people must spot a fire. Some small rural schools do not even have that, relying on a hand bell or a shout from the teacher.

"It appears some local authorities are treating it with the seriousness it deserves. Others are taking a chance. If they are taking a chance with children that is unacceptable.

"There is a responsibility through the fire act for owners to ensure there is proper fire safety prevention."

New schools have to have smoke- heat detection systems to comply with building regulations.

"Local authorities may see it as costly but they have a moral duty and duty of care to the children in these schools."

PSC say. "Smoke alarms are a commonsense precaution against fire, which doesn't happen often but can have a devastating effect. In the event of a fire, it is generally smoke that kills, not flames.

"To detect smoke you would have to be exposed to it, so it's clearly far superior to have a mechanical method of detection that can pick it up at the earliest possible stage, rather than placing people in danger.

"Fighting the fire comes secondary. Buildings and equipment are replaceable but loss of life would be catastrophic.

"Smoke detectors will identify smoke at a level before people notice it. This gives more opportunity for evacuation of the premises, than leaving the fire authorities to tackle any evident fire."

However, not all local authorities have taken this view.

"There is no requirement for life safety in most cases for smoke detection systems to be fitted in schools," a spokeswoman said.

The Arson Prevention Bureau (APB), established by the Home Office and Association of British Insurers, said the key issue for local authorities was money and called for councils to do more to protect schools and children.

The latest APB figures show there are, on average, 20 fire-raising attacks on British schools each week, with Strathclyde and Greater Manchester suffering most.

"There has been an increase in day-time fires," said a spokesman. "That has clear implications for safety."

Eleanor Coner, of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, accepted that there may be problems in installing automated systems in older buildings and added: "As usual we are giving mixed messages to children. They often have lessons about being safe in their homes and that it is very important to have a smoke detector and it is probably about time we looked at this."

The fire service said that 57% of the 1500 fires in schools in the UK in 2002 were started deliberately.

Almost half the accidental fires in schools were caused by faulty appliances, leads and fuel supplies. About 25% of school fires in 2002 started in a classroom or lecture room.

For any help or advice please email paul@pscfiresafety.com or give us a call 01455 557877.