sprinklers | Schools Week

DfE sprinklers plan leaves most schools ‘exposed to fires’, warn campaigners

The government’s proposal to only advise the use of sprinklers in some new schools will leave the majority “exposed to fires”, education unions and fire safety experts have warned. In a letter to education secretary Gavin Williamson, 23 organisations said it was “incomprehensible” that the Department for Education had snubbed calls to have sprinklers in […]

Fire chiefs to challenge government over ‘backward step’ of sprinklers plans

Fire chiefs are set to challenge a government consultation on sprinklers in classrooms, claiming the proposals are “taking the standards of fire safety in schools backwards”. A long-awaited consultation to the Fire Safety Design for Schools bulletin was launched last month. The non-statutory guidance proposes that automatic fire suppression systems – such as sprinklers – […]

Sprinklers still not mandatory for school rebuilding projects

Sprinklers are unlikely to be made mandatory in the 50 school rebuilding projects announced last week because the government’s consultation into fire safety has been delayed. The Department for Education has committed to revising its guidance on fire safety design for new schools. The current guidance says that all new schools should have fire sprinklers […]

Thousands of pounds raised for Derby school devastated in arson attack

A school has launched a heart-felt plea for donations to replace thousands of pounds worth of new books that were destroyed in a devastating arson attack. Ravensdale Infant School was one of two schools in Derby deliberately set alight within 48 hours earlier this month, prompting fresh calls for sprinklers to be installed in new […]

Renewed calls for mandatory sprinklers after schools destroyed

Fire chiefs are again calling for sprinklers to be made mandatory for new and refurbished schools after two devastating fires over the weekend. Two schools in Derbyshire were left severely damaged from the blazes, with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service saying neither had sprinklers fitted. The pupils are now being educated remotely while the council […]

No sprinklers in any London schools that had fires this year

Not one London school that has had a fire so far this year had sprinklers fitted, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said. Firefighters have attended 46 fires in London schools since January 1, and found none of the 18 primary schools, 14 secondary schools and 14 pre-schools and nurseries visited was fitted with an […]