Fire safety design requirements every school should incorporate

Thus, it is of paramount importance for every student, school authority, and teacher to know how well the school is prepared to deal with such situations. In case they are not, need to think about the design requirements one should incorporate in suggestion with the school architects of Delhi.

If you are planning to make changes in your school design, we have listed the government guidelines for schools that can help prevent the fire and steps you should follow in case of fire. The do’s and don’ts list is stated below.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority of India (NDMA), every school must abide by certain rules and regulations in order to prevent fire outbreaks and ensure safety. Several authorities and school architects in Delhi suggest that fire prevention and safety measures must be a part of the initial school design and should be regularly maintained.

Here are some pointers that must be ensured by every school as a safety precaution:

• The flammable and hazardous materials sources should be isolated, limited, or secured somewhere safe. This includes electrical lines, heaters and stoves, natural gas pipelines and LPG canisters, and combustible liquids. These are a few things that can be done to prevent smoke inhalation in case of fire:
• Exit routes need to be clear to facilitate safe evacuation in case of fire or other emergencies.
• Make sure that fire extinguishers are regularly checked and filled.
• The detection and alarm system must be working.
• Other firefighting materials and sources are up-to-date.
• The electrical systems that are there should be operable, in compliance with fire safety design criteria.

In addition to the guidelines mentioned above, here are few points that you must keep in mind:

• As a thumb rule, fire drills need to be held regularly while school is in session.
• An adult or a student buddy should be assigned to students with specific needs. The same rule applies to preschoolers.
• Several school architects in Delhi suggest that every room in the school should have a map identifying two ways out.
• Make sure that every single student, along with staff and teachers must be aware of the safety precautions and steps to follow in case of a fire outbreak.
• Conduct safety audits like an electric audit - checking electrical systems by an electrician. Then comes the fire audit which involves checking for possible sources of fire and identifying inflammable items within the school premises.

Conclusion

Schools must remain a safe haven for kids where they can learn and develop. However, a secure environment requires everyone from teachers to parents to play a role in fire safety. From installing the right fire suppression system in place to conducting drills and making sure egress paths are clear, compliance with model fire codes is vital and the school architect must take care of it while designing.