UNDERSTANDING THE RISKS OF FIRE
This goes beyond having crucial fire protection equipment within the school grounds. To avoid the negligence that can result in a fire, as well as the human error that can occur in a fire emergency, fire safety education – for all inhabitants of a school is necessary.
Adhering to state legislation surrounding fire safety can ensure that fire risks are minimised, and that everyone within the school property knows how to proceed in a fire emergency, measures which Fire Safe ANZ can walk you, your employees and students through – from learning about fire-prevention in high-risk areas such as common kitchens and design and technology workshops, to implementing routine fire drills as an emergency management procedure.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES FOR SCHOOLS
Emergency Lighting Systems
These are mandatory within a school property in case of a fire or power outage – where emergency stairwells, common areas and emergency exit signs remain illuminated for the safety of students, teachers and other employees; these are also highly valuable for fire crews and rescue teams who arrive at the site in a fire emergency.
According to the National Construction Code of Australia, all commercial buildings need to be fitted with an approved emergency evacuation lighting system: one with a separated lighting circuit, a timed tested facility and a sufficient amount of exit and emergency lights. This requires testing of all exit and emergency lights every six months, something Fire Safe ANZ Electricians can perform for your school premises, while simultaneously replacing any frequently encountered emergency lighting faults – such as spent globes or batteries, and damaged fittings (due to being hit by ladders).
Fire Extinguishers
Alongside fire blankets, fire extinguishers serve as the first line of defence from a fire, having an 80 per cent likelihood of putting out a fire if used by an individual with fire safety training. With the five types of fire extinguishers available in Australia having different applications, the importance of employee fire extinguishing training should not be underestimated, eliminating the risk of human error in the case of a fire.
Regular, six-monthly inspections of fire extinguishers within the school premises is also crucial. This includes examining the extinguisher for any physical damage, tampering or leaks, weighing the extinguisher to check it is still full, and checking that the pressure gauge indicator is ‘in the green’, or in the correct operational range.
Fire Sprinkling Systems
An active fire suppression system with heat-from-fire detection and dousing-of-fire functions, a school with a routinely tested sprinkling system will undergo less fire damage and therefore fewer repair costs than a school without one.
HOW CAN FIRE SAFE ANZ HELP YOUR SCHOOL’S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES?
From providing tailored Essential Services Maintenance Packages and Project Management at any time to customised Evacuation Diagrams, Fire Safe ANZ will ensure all fire and electrical safety requirements for your school’s grounds have been met, are up-to-date, routinely tested, and within your budget.
Contact us today for peace of mind that your school’s grounds, and more importantly, its students and employees are constantly in safe hands.