The Importance Of Fire Extinguishers In A School Environment 

In crowded and busy schools, safety is always a concern. One of the greatest dangers any school could face is the outbreak of a fire. Fires can be aggressive and spread rapidly so all schools must have fire safety as a top priority.

The best way to ensure a school is as fire safe as it can be is to call in professional fire safety and protection services to assess the school and implement fire safety and prevention measures. Whether you require fire protection services NSW or in any other state or territory in Australia, the only way to be sure a school is protected against fire is to call in professional assistance.

Fire Extinguishers Are Often the First Line of Defence

In practically any environment most fires start out quite small. If a small fire breaks out in any location within the school, if it can be contained quickly before it spreads, the danger will be avoided and fire damage will be kept to a minimum. This is where the portable fire extinguisher really comes into its element. It really is the first line of defence in fire control and containment.

Most schools will be equipped with fire hoses, fire axes, blankets, fire sprinkler systems and other lines of defence. But, it’s usually the fire extinguisher that’s the first and most practical option to extinguish a blaze before it really takes hold. Rather than spending time retrieving a fire hose to douse a small fire, it can quickly and easily be extinguished with a fire extinguisher in the majority of cases.

A School Needs To Have Many Fire Extinguishers Handy

Schools are big places, usually with numerous different buildings. Therefore, only having a mere handful of fire extinguishers available is not going to be anywhere near adequate to protect a school.

Ideally, every office and classroom will be equipped with at least one portable fire extinguisher. For science labs and school workshops (such as wood and metalwork), there should be more than one fire extinguisher available in each room.

As a guide, the Australian Standard 2444 and the Building Code of Australia stipulates that there should be one Class A fire extinguisher every 15 metres.

To be certain your school has enough fire extinguishers and in the right places, call in professional fire protection services to make an accurate assessment.

Fire Extinguishers Must Be Easily Accessible

Aside from having the appropriate amount of fire extinguishers in a school, they also need to be kept in locations where they can be accessed very quickly and without any obstacles in the way. When a fire breaks out, speed is the name of the game to get it contained and extinguished.

Having fire extinguishers stashed away in cupboards, trapped behind piles of junk is neither practical nor safe. As much as possible, keep them out in the open where they are readily seen in the case of an emergency and make sure access to them is totally unimpeded.

The Importance of Fire Extinguisher Training In Schools

There is very little point in having a school loaded up with fire extinguishers if no one knows how to use one. That’s why it’s important for staff – including teachers, admin staff and janitorial staff – to be trained in the proper use of fire extinguishers and what type of fire extinguisher is suitable for a particular type of fire.

Fire extinguisher training generally includes the following points:

• Identifying fire risks
• Locations of the fire extinguishers
• Knowing which extinguisher to use for a particular fire
• How to operate the fire extinguisher
• When to abandon a fire and evacuate

If someone doesn’t know how to operate a fire extinguisher, they should leave the scene of the fire and evacuate. Additionally, to fire extinguisher training, staff should also be well versed in general fire safety training. This includes evacuations and ensuring students know what to do in the event of a fire. 

In Conclusion

To help keep everyone onsite at a school safe, it’s important that the premises is equipped with enough extinguishers. More so, staff must be competent in operating a fire extinguisher should a fire arise and also well versed in the evacuation plan with students.