Fire Policy and Procedures Cañada Blanch Spanish School
SUMMARY 1. Introduction (p. 3) 2. Roles and responsibilities (p. 3) -- Headteacher -- Fire Team -- All staff -- Contractors 3. Fire procedures (p. 4) 4. Fire precautions Log Book and other records (p. 7) 5. Fire risk assessment (p. 7) 6. Disabled staff, pupils and visitors (p. 7) 7. Electrical equipment (p. 8) 8. Staff fire training (p. 9) 9. Policy review (p. 9)
1. Introduction Cañada Blanch Spanish School (theschool) is required to have a fire policy under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The School s priority is to minimize the risk to life and to reduce injury by maintaining the physical fire safety of the School, in ensuring that staff, pupils and visitors do not add to the fire risk and through safe evacuation of our buildings if a fire breaks out. The fire safety policy, procedures and risk assessments at Cañada Blanch Spanish School are designed to minimize the likelihood of a fire on site and to help its community to respond calmly and effectively in the event that fire breaks out in one of its buildings. 2. Roles and Responsibilities 2.1. HEADTEACHER: M. Isabel Martínez, as the Headteacher, has overall responsibility for the Fire Policy. 2.2. FIRE TEAM: -- Fi r e M a r s h a l l s: Fra n c i s c o T o r a n zo ( H ea d of P r i mary) Fernando de la Cruz ( H e a d o f S e c o n dary) I l d ef o n s o P r eg i g u e i ro A n a E s c a m i l l a A d o lf o G a r c ía E d i s o n S a n Ma r t í n N i c o l á s Ma yo T h e H e a d t e a c h e r i s s u p p o r t e d b y t h e F i r e T e a m t o e n s u r e t ha t i t i s i m p l e m e n t e d a n d a l t e r a t i o n s a r e m a d e a s a n d wh e n r e q u i r e d and the Fire Team is responsible for ensuring that: The fire policy is kept under regular review by the Management Team. The fire policy is promulgated to the entire School community. Everyone in the School (including visitors and contractors) are given clear written instruction sand brief on where they should go in the event of fire. Records are kept of the fire induction training given to new staff. Procedures and arrangements for emergency evacuation are regularly tested and communicated. Fire risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. Fire prevention measures are meticulously followed. Fire procedures and risk assessments are reviewed on each occasion that a building is altered, extended or rebuilt, or when new buildings are acquired. Records are kept of all fire drills. Certificates for the installation and maintenance of fire-fighting systems and equipment are kept.
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) are in place for disabled staff and pupils. 2.3 ALL STAFF: All staff has duties and responsibilities in respect of fire safety under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This is made clear to them during induction training and at annual refresher training. All employees must ensure that: -- They comply with the relevant fire and emergency procedures for their premises. -- That all fire exits, escape routes and fire-fighting equipment are kept free of obstruction at all times. -- Firefighting equipment is not removed from its appointed location at any time, unless for the use in the event of an emergency. -- All signed fire doors are kept closed at all times, unless they are fitted with the appropriate self-closing mechanisms in the event of the fire alarm sounding. -- No smoking policies are strictly adhered to. --Flammable substances are stored in their correct containers and in a cool place, away from ignition sources. -- No vehicles are parked in places where it may obstruct emergency exits or obstruct access to fire appliances. -- Fire notices are obeyed and that on hearing the fire alarm staff immediately leave the building until they are authorized to return. 2.4 CONSTRACTORS: Contractors working in the premises will be informed and briefed of the Fire Policy and Procedures prior to work commencing, in accordance with the Management of Health andsafety at Work Regulations 1992. Also independent Risk Assessment to be done in compliance with school procedures prior any work takes place. The School recognizes the importance of liaising with the local authority fire and rescue service in respect of fire precautions and possible fire fighting in the premises (Organization chart to be displayed on school). Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 the local authority fire and rescue service has the authority to enter the School premises for the purpose of carrying out inspections to ensure compliance with the Order. 3. Fire Procedures The Fire Procedure is to be followed by all staff, pupils and visitors in the event of fire and fire alarm activations. All visitors should sign the register to demonstrate the understanding of procedures. The principal objective of the procedure is to achieve a rapid and effective response to all fire alarms and fire emergencies, consistent with the safeguarding of life and property. Unless specifically trained to do so, staff will not use fire extinguishers, the priority being to evacuate the building.
General action in the event of a fire Any member of staff or student discovering a fire should set off the alarm at the nearest available fire alarm point. When the alarm sounds, all staff and students should evacuate the building along the nearest fire escape route as quickly as possible, without stopping to take equipment or possessions. Through training and via regular reminders (at least once a month drills) staff and students are instructed that they must not re-enter any room once the alarm sounds (6 months refresher). When the fire alarm sounds, a member of the fire team, usually the caretaker will go to the fire panel to discover in which area of the building the alarm has been triggered. If safe to do so, the caretaker and another member of the fire team will investigate the source of the fire or alarm activation and phone the fire brigade. (Unless the alarm activation is a planned drill) If the alarm sounds during lesson time, all members of the class should line up in their classrooms in preparation for the evacuation. At the assembly point the students need to line up in the class group they were in when the alarm sounded. If the alarm sounds during break or lunch time, students and staff within the building should evacuate to the assembly point and line up in their respective form groups. Staff should, where practicable, liaise to ensure that a sweep of the designated fire zone in which they are working is carried out. When satisfied that he/she has fully swept a zone, the person carrying out the sweep should, if safe to do so, collect the tally for the zone before proceeding to the assembly point by the nearest safe route checking that all fire doors are close behind them. Lifts must not be used in any case of alarm activation. As a rule, all fire fighting should be left to the fire service. An attempt to fight a fire with the fire fighting equipment available would only be appropriate for trained staff, where the fire was very small or where it was encroaching on an exit route. The first priority is to raise the alarm and evacuate. All occupants should proceed to the designated fire assembly point. Assembly points are indicated on fire action notices throughout the buildings. It is important that staff and students do not remain near the entrances of the buildings which have been evacuated; this can restrict the evacuation and hinder access for fire brigade personnel. At all times during the emergency, staff and students should comply with all instructions given to them by the fire team. Do not re-enter the building until advised to do so by the Fire Team.
Fire evacuation procedures Staffs in charge of students are responsible for the safety and well-being of the students and so should ensure that all are aware of the available fire exit routes from their classrooms, and the location of the assembly point. In the event of alarm activation, the member of staff should take all reasonable steps to ensure that the students evacuate the area promptly and should re-assemble with them at the designated assembly point, a head counting will be done on assembly point to ensure all students and staffs is present and safe. Members of the staff must do the fire induction and be familiar with: a. The fire exits in the building that students must use in case of emergency. b. The assembly points and shorter route from their class position. c. Where the fire alarms are inside the building. d. How to raise the alarm. e. Where the fire extinguishers are and how to use them. In case of emergency, members of staff must: a. Do a headcount of pupils before leaving the classroom when possible or at latest in assembly point as per procedure. b. Ensure that pupils leave in an orderly manner, in a single file with the pupil whose name heads the register first and so on when possible or in close proximity from seat to exit. c. The teacher should leave last and should ensure that no pupil strays. d. Check that all the fire doors are close on the way out. e. On getting to the assembly point should notify the person in charge of any students missing or still in the building. MeetingPoints The School has a number of Fire Meeting Points. The fire drill procedures and meeting points are displayed in every room at school.
4. Fire Precautions Log Book and Other Records A fire precautions log book will be maintained by the caretakers and maintenance staff. Details of the following will be recorded within fire emergency files and log book; Testing and maintenance of the premises fire alarm systems; Testing and maintenance of emergency lighting systems; Testing and maintenance of fire fighting equipment; Testing and maintenance of final exit doors and do or hardware; Maintenance of the premises heating systems; Maintenance of the premises mains electrical installations; Maintenance of portable electrical appliances; Maintenance and cleaning of stage lighting where appropriate; Maintenance, cleaning and testing of kitchen equipment, including ducts and extraction systems where appropriate (minimum every 6 moths) Fire drills; Fires and false alarms; Visits/ inspections by fire and rescue service officers; Contact details of fire fighting equipment supplier; Fire certificates where appropriated. A separate record of all staff fire training will be maintained by the Bursar. An inventory of fire extinguishers and their positions, fire detection equipment, break glass call points, sounders and their positions, and annual test certificates for the above are maintained in the school office. 5. Fire Risk Assessment The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires Cañada Blanch Spanish School to carry out a fire risk assessment. The fire risk assessment will identify fire hazards and appropriate action to remove or reduce the hazards will be taken. The detailed risk assessment files are kept in the school office. Cañada Blanch Spanish School recognises the following as potential risks; Electrical appliances; Arson Portable heaters and heating installations; Cooking Poor housekeeping Contractors Suitable control measures will be employed where necessary to reduce the risk from these sources. The fire risk assessment will be reviewed at regular intervals not exceeding 12 months.
6. Disabled Staff, Pupils and Visitors Staff and pupils may need arrangements in place to help them in emergencies which must be described and communicated to the fire team through Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs). Arrangements for the emergency evacuation of disabled visitors should be reflected in more generic event risk assessments. 7. Electrical Equipment In accordance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, all appliances connected to the School s electrical installations will be controlled though a routine checking system known as Portable Appliance Testing (PAT). The School will use guidance given by the Health and Safety Executive to decide frequency of this testing and records of testing will be made available for inspection. See Appendix 2 for the School s Electrical Equipment procedures and specifications. Electrical Appliances Procedures and Specifications Personal electrical appliances should not be brought into the School. Electrical equipment purchases through the School must be registered by completing the registration form available from the Domestic Bursar s office. Appliances used in the UK must carry the appropriate British Standard number, Kite mark, and/or CE Europeanmark. The plug must be the safety sleeve type and carry BS number1363. Plugs must be fitted with a maximum 13 amp fuse. Low power appliances below750 watts (such as radios, lamps and stereos) must be fitted with a 3 amp fuse. Manufacturers instructions regarding fuse size should be adhered to. Outer sheaths of cables must be securely fixed in to plugs. Electrical equipment, fittings, plugs and cables must not be interfered with by unqualified staff.
It is forbidden to connect any appliance to a lighting circuit, or use 2 or 3 way adaptors. Fused short or multiplug sockets may be used. Extension leads must not be over loaded with heavy current items such as electric kettles. Cable reels must be fully extended when in use. Electrical equipment must be unplugged and switched off when not in use. 8. Staff Fire Training All staff will receive basic instructions in fire safety and fire training appropriate to the specific needs of their place of work. A record will be maintained of all staff fire training by the Bursar. It is essential that all staff: Understand and are familiar with extinguisher codes of practice; Understand the character and hazards of fire, smoke and toxic fumes; Understand the importance of fire doors in preventing the rapid spread of smoke and fire Know the fire hazards involved in their working environment; Practice and promote fire prevention e.g. by eliminating electrical hazards (as above); Are familiar with closest escape route options in all areas of the School in which they work. Know and follow the procedures in which they were trained. Fire drills will be carried out at regular intervals. Fire drills will be monitored and all details recorded to enable the Fire Team to assess the effectiveness of fire procedures and the adequacy of staff fire training.
9. Policy Review This policy will be reviewed and updated by the Fire Team annually to take account of changes in legislation or working practices and in the event of changes on the building or staff replacement to keep same standards. When so, need to be communicated again to all users and visitors and registers and briefs updated London April 2015 Policy to be reviewed again on April 2016