Fire Risk Assessment for
Schools
Professional fire risk assessments for schools, colleges, and educational establishments. CLEAPSS science lab compliance, Building Bulletin 100 assembly hall assessment, PEEP development, and Ofsted-ready documentation. BAFE SP205 registered assessors.
Schools and educational establishments require specialist fire risk assessments that address supervised evacuation of young persons, science laboratory safety, assembly hall capacity, and disabled pupil PEEPs. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and Department for Education guidance, schools must maintain comprehensive fire safety documentation meeting Ofsted inspection standards.
Serving Schools & Educational Establishments Across the UK
We work with headteachers, governors, and compliance officers responsible for all types of educational premises:
- Primary schools — nursery and infant/junior facilities
- Secondary schools — including science labs and workshops
- Academies & multi-academy trusts — coordinated trust-wide compliance
- SEN schools — enhanced PEEP requirements for special educational needs
- Sixth form colleges — including vocational and laboratory facilities
Complete School Fire Safety Assessment Package
Every school fire risk assessment includes a comprehensive package designed to meet all current legislative requirements and Ofsted inspection standards:
- Full school inspection — classrooms, labs, assembly halls, sports facilities, and after-school clubs
- CLEAPSS science lab assessment — Bunsen burner safety, chemical storage, gas tubing compliance
- Building Bulletin 100 verification — assembly hall occupancy, exit capacity, emergency lighting
- Disabled pupil PEEPs — evacuation chairs, refuge areas, staff training, Equality Act compliance
- Kitchen Class F assessment — wet chemical extinguishers, BS EN 3 compliance, extraction cleaning
- Arson prevention review — security measures, combustible material management
- Detailed photographic report — Ofsted-ready with risk ratings and prioritised action plan
- Ongoing compliance support — termly drill schedules and review guidance
Why Schools Choose Fire Assessment North
Headteachers and governors across the UK trust us for their schools because we understand the specific challenges of educational fire safety:
- 24-hour turnaround on standard assessments — Ofsted inspection ready
- BAFE SP205 registered — independently audited and accredited
- Ofsted-ready documentation — safeguarding and leadership framework compliance
- CLEAPSS & Building Bulletin 100 specialists — education-specific expertise
- Multi-academy trust support — standardised frameworks with bulk discounts of 10-15%
- PEEP development — for all categories of disabled pupils
Why School Fire Risk Assessments Are Legally Mandatory
Only 58% of school fire safety audits now achieve satisfactory outcomes — the lowest proportion since 2011.
58%
School audits with satisfactory outcomes (lowest since 2011)
2,823
Formal fire safety notices issued to schools
43
School prosecutions initiated (79% increase)
Schools face severe penalties for fire safety failures. A London Primary School received £60,970 fine when a 7-year-old suffered 45% burns during a carol concert with lit candles and cotton wool costumes. Wakefield Grammar School Foundation paid £39,533 for blocked escape routes and wedged fire doors. Only 58% of school fire safety audits now achieve satisfactory outcomes — the lowest proportion since 2011 — triggering 85% increase in inspections and 79% surge in prosecutions.
Our Specialist School Assessment Process
Comprehensive evaluations designed for educational environments including primary schools, secondary schools, and multi-academy trusts.
Site Inspection
Complete walk-through of classrooms, science labs, assembly halls, sports facilities, staff areas, and after-school club spaces.
CLEAPSS Lab Assessment
Evaluation of Bunsen burner safety, chemical storage compliance, gas tubing specifications, and science laboratory equipment.
PEEP Development
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for disabled pupils under Equality Act 2010, evacuation chair training, and refuge area specifications.
Assembly Hall Compliance
Building Bulletin 100 occupancy calculations, 2.5-minute evacuation time verification, exit capacity assessment, and emergency lighting 3-hour backup requirements.
Ofsted-Ready Report
Professional documentation meeting Fire Safety Order 2005 requirements, Ofsted safeguarding inspection readiness, and multi-academy trust standardisation.
6 Critical School Fire Hazards We Assess
Educational environments present unique fire challenges from science labs, assembly halls, PEEPs, and Ofsted compliance requirements.
Corridor Congestion & Evacuation Times
Schools must evacuate all pupils to protected escape routes or outside air within 2.5 minutes. Lesson changeover periods create peak corridor congestion with 500+ pupils simultaneously moving between classes. Assembly hall occupancy calculations require 0.45 m² per person floor space factor and 100 persons per 750mm exit width capacity. Termly fire drills (minimum 3 per year) must demonstrate compliance.
Our Assessment:
Travel distance calculations from furthest classroom to protected escape routes (maximum 60m low-risk), exit capacity verification, corridor width adequacy inspection during peak changeover periods, assembly hall Building Bulletin 100 compliance verification, emergency lighting 3-hour backup testing, and termly fire drill documentation review.
Science Laboratories (CLEAPSS)
Science laboratories contain Bunsen burners, flammable chemicals, and heat-generating equipment creating significant ignition sources. CLEAPSS guidelines mandate fabric-reinforced PVC gas tubing only (natural rubber prohibited). Flammable liquids exceeding 50 litres require purpose-designed metal storage cabinets. 23% of school fires result from electrical/equipment faults making laboratory compliance critical.
Our Assessment:
CLEAPSS guideline compliance verification including gas tubing material inspection (fabric-reinforced PVC only), Bunsen burner clearance measurements (minimum 2-foot from combustibles), chemical storage cabinet adequacy for flammable liquids, explosion-proof refrigerator verification, fire blanket and emergency eyewash station placement, and chemical inventory currency review.
Assembly Hall Occupancy
Assembly halls accommodate entire school populations requiring precise Building Bulletin 100 compliance. Critical requirement: largest exit must be discounted in capacity calculations ensuring adequate alternative escape routes. Emergency lighting must provide 3 hours continuous illumination. Exit capacity reductions apply: 20% for routes with stairs, 15% for corridors with corners.
Our Assessment:
Building Bulletin 100 occupancy calculations using 0.45 m² per person factor, exit capacity verification with largest exit discounted, alternative exit separation assessment, exit capacity reduction calculations for stairs (20%) and corners (15%), emergency lighting 3-hour backup testing, and assembly point suitability inspection.
IT & Computer Lab Electrical Safety
IT rooms contain high-density electrical equipment creating cumulative electrical loads. Multiple desktop computers, monitors, servers, and networking equipment generate significant heat in confined spaces. Overloaded circuits represent primary cause of IT room fires. Poor cable management creates trip hazards and fire risks from damaged insulation.
Our Assessment:
Electrical load calculations for IT rooms accounting for all devices, circuit capacity verification against actual demand, cable management adequacy inspection, power strip and extension lead usage evaluation (daisy-chaining identification), dust accumulation inspection, PAT testing compliance review, clean agent suppression system suitability assessment, and temperature monitoring system effectiveness.
Kitchen & Catering (Class F Fires)
School catering kitchens contain deep fat fryers and cooking equipment creating Class F fire risks. Cooking oils and fats ignite at approximately 340°C. Standard water extinguishers cause explosive spreading of burning oil. Class F wet chemical extinguishers containing potassium salts are legally required under BS EN 3 standards with 75F rating (75 litres cooking oil capacity).
Our Assessment:
Class F wet chemical extinguisher presence verification meeting BS EN 3 standards, extinguisher rating adequacy for cooking oil volumes, extinguisher placement accessibility near deep fat fryers, staff training verification on Class F extinguisher operation, extraction hood and ducting professional cleaning schedule review, and continuous supervision procedures for heating equipment.
Disabled Pupil PEEPs (Equality Act 2010)
Equality Act 2010 mandates Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for pupils who cannot evacuate using standard procedures. Failure to provide adequate evacuation equals unlawful discrimination. PEEPs required for mobility impairments, visual impairments, hearing impairments, cognitive/learning disabilities, respiratory conditions, and neurological conditions. Evacuation chairs classified as Class 1 Medical Devices requiring annual professional servicing.
Our Assessment:
PEEP documentation review for all disabled pupils, evacuation chair availability and annual servicing records, designated staff training verification on evacuation chair operation, refuge area specifications inspection (fire-resisting construction, 2-way communication, minimum 4m² space), and evacuation drill participation records for pupils with PEEPs.
How Much Does a School Fire Risk Assessment Cost?
Costs typically range from £495–£3,000 depending on school size, number of buildings, and complexity of facilities.
Factors affecting cost: Costs are influenced by number of pupils, number of buildings, science laboratory facilities, assembly hall complexity, after-school club provision, and whether multi-academy trust standardisation is needed. Trusts benefit from 10-15% bulk discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from headteachers, governors, and compliance officers about school fire safety.
How often do schools need fire risk assessments?
What are PEEP requirements for disabled pupils?
What science laboratory fire hazards need assessment?
What is the 2.5-minute evacuation requirement?
Why do school kitchens need Class F extinguishers?
How often must schools conduct fire drills?
How does fire safety affect Ofsted ratings?
What are the penalties for school fire safety breaches?
Ready to Get Your Fire Risk Assessment for Schools?
Professional service from BAFE-accredited engineers. 24-hour turnaround. From £495 + VAT.