Warning as 40 schools a month hit by fires in the last year
11/04/2020
In the last year 40 schools a month have been hit by fires, just 2% had sprinklers. Zurich inspected 1,000 schools, two thirds were rated with ‘poor’ fire protection measures.
What you need to know:
- Data from 41 out of 54 Fire and Rescue Service and Authorities in the UK reveals over 15,000m² of damage to school spaces and classrooms in 2019, impacting the education of almost 20,000 children
- In 2019 alone, more than 271 primary schools and 209 secondary schools suffered fire damage
- Of more than 1,000 school inspections carried out by Zurich Municipal, two thirds (66%) were rated as having ‘poor’ fixed fire protection systems, such as sprinklers. Firefighters have been called to nearly 2,000 school blazes in the last three years
- Calls for sprinklers to be made mandatory in England as government pledges £1bn+ school rebuilding programme for England
- A parliamentary petition has been launched to urge MPs to change the law on sprinklers in schools.
A new study from Zurich Municipal reveals 480 primary and secondary schools endured fires in 2019, a staggering 40 incidents every month. As a result, almost 20,000 school children have had their education impacted or have been displaced from their usual school building over the same period. The research was compiled by the Zurich data science team through a freedom of information request to the UK Fire and Rescue Services.
Further data analysis by Zurich, a leading insurer of schools in the UK, shows that last year over 15,000m² of classroom space was damaged during blazes last year across 271 primary and 209 secondary schools. Only 2% (seven) of the schools had sprinkler protection in place. According to official figures, only 15% of all new schools built and open in the UK since 2011 have been fitted with sprinklers . Whilst sprinklers are compulsory in all new or major refurbished school buildings in Scotland and Wales, this is not the case in England.
Firefighters have been called to nearly 2,000 school blazes in England alone in the last three years. Malfunctioning appliances or equipment, faulty electrics, arson and kitchen blazes are among the leading causes of school fires. Larger fires in schools cost on average £2.8 million to repair and in some cases over £20 million.
Despite being far riskier than average property when it comes to fires, many schools also lack the equipment and adequate fire protection needed to prevent small fires becoming major disasters. Of more than 1,000 school inspections carried out by Zurich, two thirds (66%) were rated as having ‘poor’ fixed fire protection systems, such as sprinklers, which are proven to significantly reduce the damage caused by fire. Just 14% were rated ‘good’ or ‘excellent’. A further quarter (24%) were judged ‘poor’ for fire detection measures, such as smoke detectors and fire alarms.
In June, Boris Johnson pledged £1bn to fund a decade long school rebuilding and repair programme and a further “£560m in early August. Based on large fires alone, Zurich estimates that the repair for school fires could hit £320 million over 10 years – a significant portion of the government’s stated investment. Zurich wants the government to ring-fence some of its promised investment to improve the resilience of schools at high risk of fire.
Tilden Watson, Head of Education at Zurich Municipal, said: “With children’s education already severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the last thing we need is further disruption as a result of preventable school fires. As insurers, we work closely with schools to help them manage their fire risks but a simple solution such as the installation of sprinklers could minimise the dangers from the outset, avoiding months or even years of upheaval while the repairs are being carried out. It also preserves the community space, for which schools are often used out of hours.
“As well as protecting pupils, sprinklers drastically reduce the extent of damage when there is a blaze, often confining the fire to a single room. This gets children back into schools and classrooms quicker as well as saving taxpayers’ money so why is the Government not willing to make this investment now, minimising the impact on our children, potentially saving lives and millions of pounds in repair costs?”
Andy Dark, Fire Brigades Union assistant general secretary, commented: “The poor standard of fire safety provision in our schools is nothing short of a scandal. A major feature of this failure to invest is the lack of sprinklers. It makes clear and unchallengeable economic sense to have sprinklers fitted; it has huge support amongst teachers and parents and has universal support amongst fire service professionals and the wider fire community. It is impossible to imagine why the Government has dragged its heels on this issue.
“Raising the level of fire protection and prevention in schools ticks all the boxes: protecting the education of students; protecting the community assets which the school infrastructure provides; reducing the damage caused by smoke and fire; and reducing the risks to both school-users and the firefighters who are called upon to extinguish the fires. It’s time for the government to stop prevaricating. It’s time for MPs of all parties to press for the government to urgently introduce the mandatory fitting and retro-fitting of sprinklers in all schools.”
