Fire protection in educational buildings is crucial not only to save lives, but to prevent major destruction of property and delays in the course curriculum. If you are the manager of an educational institute or facility, you should know the facts, hazards, and prevention measures when it comes to protecting your property from a fire emergency.
Fire Protection for Schooles and Campuses
Fire sprinkler systems
Fire sprinklers are essential for protecting your classrooms around the clock, whether or not they are currently being used for teaching. Fire sprinklers can prevent a fire from spreading from one room to the next, minimizing downtime during the school days and reducing the number of displaced classrooms. The NFPA reports that direct damage from a fire is 63 percent lower when sprinkler systems were present and used compared to school fires without automatic sprinkler systems.
Fire evacuation routes
The building should have fire evacuation routes posted in each room with more than one escape route listed. Depending on the school’s blue prints, there may be more than one safety zone that teachers can safely lead students too. Most schools practice fire drills monthly, which is a great way to ensure that students will know the best and safest evacuation route regardless of what classroom they are currently in. Students should also be reminded not to take any belongings or stop by lockers on their way out in the event of a fire emergency.
Fire alarms
Having a working, well-maintained fire alarm system is crucial for keeping your educational building up to code and safe for your students and staff. To ensure that it is in working order—and ready to alert guests of a fire emergency at any time of day or night—you should have your system inspected regularly by a professional fire protection company. If the students within your school are younger, it is important to teach them not to view the fire alarm as a toy or prank—only to be used in serious situations.
Fire extinguishers
Local standards will differ, but an ABC fire extinguisher is the most versatile and common type because it can put out fire caused by ordinary materials (paper, plastic, trash), flammable liquids (oil, grease, gasoline), and electrical equipment (appliances, computers, wiring). You can conduct fire extinguisher training for your teachers and staff so that they can control a smaller fire that might break out in a classroom. Fire extinguishers should also be clearly labeled in rooms throughout the schools.
