Every school in Cumbria must have a current fire risk assessment, a fully tested alarm system, and a documented evacuation plan before pupils walk through the door in September. The summer break is the best time to get all three sorted. This checklist covers exactly what to do, in what order.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, every non-domestic premises must have a "responsible person" who holds legal accountability for fire safety. In most Cumbrian schools, this is the headteacher or the governing body. For academy trusts, the trust itself carries this responsibility across all its sites.
The responsible person must make sure a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is in place, that it is reviewed regularly, and that its findings are acted on. Delegation to a site manager or caretaker is common, but the legal duty stays with the responsible person. If something goes wrong, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service will ask that person for documentation.
BS 5839 sets out the testing schedule for fire detection and alarm systems in the UK. For schools, the key requirements are a weekly alarm test using a different call point each time, and a full system inspection by a competent engineer at least every six months.
If your school's alarm system has been sitting idle for six weeks over summer, do not assume it will work on the first day of term. Dust, humidity, and even spiders can affect smoke detectors. A pre-term commissioning check by a qualified engineer gives you documented proof the system is operational. That matters for both Ofsted visits and fire authority inspections.
According to the Fire Industry Association, schools fall within the educational premises category that sees a significant number of fire incidents each year. Many of these occur outside of term time. Returning to a building that has been unoccupied for weeks without testing the alarm first is a risk no headteacher should take.
After years of working with schools across Penrith, Carlisle, Kendal, and the wider county, certain problems come up again and again. These are not obscure technical failures. They are practical, everyday oversights that could cost lives or result in enforcement action.
Fire doors propped open with wedges or bins are the single most common issue. During warm weather, staff prop doors to ventilate corridors. Under Building Regulations Approved Document B, fire doors in educational buildings must be self-closing and rated to resist fire for a specified period. A wedged-open fire door offers zero protection.
Blocked escape routes come second. Over summer, maintenance teams store furniture, paint, and equipment in corridors and stairwells. All of this needs to be cleared completely before the first day back.
Outdated evacuation plans are the third. If your school has had building work over summer, added a temporary classroom, or changed room usage, the evacuation plan must be updated to reflect the new layout. New staff and NQTs arriving in September need to see the correct plan on their first day.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, fire doors must remain closed unless fitted with an approved hold-open device linked to the fire alarm. A wooden wedge or a fire extinguisher used as a doorstop is a criminal offence. Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service can issue enforcement notices on the spot.
With buildings empty, engineers can access every room, corridor, and plant room without disrupting lessons. For rural Cumbrian schools, where a single building may serve as classroom, hall, and kitchen, this access is particularly valuable. There is no need to work around exam timetables, school meals, or after-school clubs.
If your school is anywhere in Cumbria and you want fire safety sorted before September, BFP's team covers the whole county. Give them a call to book alarm testing, extinguisher servicing, or a full fire risk assessment in one visit.
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, a fire risk assessment must be reviewed regularly. For schools, this means at least annually, and straight away after any significant change such as building work, a change of use, or a fire incident. The responsible person, usually the headteacher or governing body, holds legal accountability for keeping it current.
BS 5839 requires a weekly test of the fire alarm system using a different manual call point each week. A full system inspection by a competent fire alarm engineer must happen at least every six months. Schools should keep a written log of all tests, which Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service or Ofsted may ask to see.
Yes. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, holding open a fire door without an approved hold-open device linked to the fire alarm system is a breach of fire safety law. The enforcing authority can issue an enforcement notice or, in serious cases, prosecute the responsible person. The only acceptable method is an approved electromagnetic hold-open device that releases the door when the alarm activates.