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2nd form of exit in primary school classroom
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Posted By Janie
Our local primary school have just converted an old school hall into a classroom. This classroom is now an internal classroom. It has no windows other than 2 skylights which are extremeley high and unaccessible. The Classroom has one single width door for entry. Should this room not have a second form of exit for emergencies ie internal window, the walls all back onto corridors or storage cupboards. In the event of a fire being around the door area the 30 children inside the classroom have not other means of escape. Can this be legal?
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Posted By SBH
Firstly what is the fire safety management plan in place ie are there sprinklers and detectors ? if not you are in deep trouble as it seems you have a dead end situation. Was the alterations structural were building control consulted, have you liaised with the fire service?
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Posted By Pete48 Janie, there is a building bulletin BB100 that is called "design for fire safety in schools" and should have the answers you seek. If you go to this link http://www.teachernet.go...cbank/index.cfm?id=12199 If the link doesnt work then just go back to the teachernet home page and search on BB100,then you should be able to download and read a copy. Paragraph 4.3.2.6 outlines the required approach for inner rooms. From this you will see that a single exit could be OK but as ever with these matters it is the local detail that is important when making risk decisions.
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Posted By Janie
Thanks SBH, The school has smoke detectors fitted but no sprinkler system, the issue was raised at a Governers meeting but the response from the Headteacher was simply that it has conformed to the relevant planning and building regulations but provided no back up material, she feels that the smoke detectors are sufficient. My view is that if the seat of the fire is around the door area the children will be trapped no matter how good the smoke detector. She has now agreed to get the fire department in to do a risk assessment but says she does not have to act on their advice nor has she given a time scale for it to be done.
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Posted By Derek Housley
Building Bulletin 100, Approved Document and the fire codes state that it is acceptable to have sixty persons in a room with only one way out.
The other criteria is the travel distance, generally this should be 18 metres where there is only one way of travel, and 45 metres where there are two directions out, the distances can be worked pro-rata re one way travel and then two ways of travel.
Hope that helps
Derek Housley MIFSM MIFPO G.I.Fire.E
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2nd form of exit in primary school classroom
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