ITEM CA13
CABINET– 24 JUNE 2008
UPDATE REPORT ON SPRINKLER PROVISION AND PREMISES SURVEY - PROGRESS OF THE INSTALLATION OF Active Fire Suppression Systems in Schools
Report by Director for Community Safety & Chief Fire Officer, Director for Children, Young People & Families and Head of Property Services
Introduction
1. On 18 September 2007, the Cabinet agreed the following recommendations, to underpin the recommendations of the September 2006 report and to provide officers with a clear direction:
(a) all new County Council schools and major refurbishments are risk assessed by an experienced Fire Safety Officer; (b) all new County Council schools and major refurbishments, other than those categorised as low risk, must be fitted with an active fire suppression system; (c) all existing primary schools (including special schools) be risk assessed by an experienced Fire Safety Officer based on a programme co-ordinated with the Primary Review; (d) all existing secondary schools (including special schools) be risk assessed by an experienced Fire Safety Officer; and (e) the outcome of those risk assessments be compiled into a report and brought back to Cabinet for further consideration.
Progress to Date
2. The decisions of Cabinet provided officers, both in Property Services and Fire & Rescue, with a number of challenges to overcome to ensure that the intentions of Cabinet were met, whilst ensuring that the risk assessment process and budget implications were measured and proportionate.
3. Officers in both areas have agreed a protocol for smaller projects. The first suitable school design proposal, to test the component parts of the process, is the Thame Lord Williams School drama block and that scheme is going through this protocol at the time of drafting the report.
4. Oxfordshire County Council are committed to the use of sprinkler systems on projects having a footprint of over 1500m². Since the Cabinet’s decision, there have been two schemes which meet this parameter; a new primary school in Gavray Drive, Bicester and a new science block at Marlborough School in Woodstock. Both schemes are currently nearing planning application stage. Two further projects are about to be commissioned that will include a requirement for sprinkler systems; a feasibility study for a new primary school at Bayards Hill and one at Woodfarm.
Risk Assessments
5. It is important to be clear that the risk rating arrived at as a result of assessment is used as an indication of the need for a school to have fire suppression systems. It must be emphasised that all schools under the control of Oxfordshire County Council are designed to ensure that the safety of staff and children is maintained and a priority at all times. It is therefore the case that the provision of any fire suppression systems in a school premises is intended to protect the building and its contents and in helping to ensure damage is kept to a minimum if a fire did occur, allowing the school to re-open quickly and minimise any disruption to the education of children. Fire suppression systems are not installed as a design feature to protect life risk. This is achieved by the standard design process using national standards under the building regulations as is the case with all public buildings.
6. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS) have carried out risk assessments at Oxfordshire County Council educational premises and the breakdown of these are as follows:
Primary schools: Department for Children, Schools & Families (DCSF) risk rating assessed based on the programme co-ordinated with the primary review. (Up to 3 June 2008).
DCSF risk rating assessment results: · One primary school was rated as Low. · One primary school was rated as High. · Thirty six primary school buildings were rated as Average / Medium risk.
Secondary Schools: DCSF risk rating assessed. (Up to 3 June 2008)
DCSF risk rating assessment results:
The Marlborough School, Woodstock. · 2 blocks rated as High risk – Main school reception and design and science blocks. · 4 blocks rated as Average / Medium risk. Language, Maths, MEC Hall and Ormerod Centre.
Lord Williams School, Thame. · 4 blocks rated as High risk – Cheshire Block, Goodall Block, Humanity Block and Sports Centre.
OFRS has carried out a total of 37 site visits and 51 audits.
Financial and Staff Implications
7. One experienced Technical Fire Safety Officer has been assigned to this programme. This has resulted in a reduction of 1100 hours per year in fire safety enforcement action in the broader community.
8. Property Services are treating all school proposals on a case by case basis in accordance with the agreed process. Recommendations for inclusion of fire suppression systems, and details of the financial implications, will be included in project appraisals with decisions taken in accordance with the level of delegation for the project appraisal in each case.
9. The majority of new primary schools are funded from developer contributions. The additional capital cost of sprinklers (estimated at up to 4% of the capital cost) will be included in the contributions sought from developers. In most cases, the actual contribution does not cover the full costs for a new school and additional funding will be required.
10. For existing secondary schools, the installation of sprinklers is likely to be more difficult and expensive. Any alternative fire safety measures will still have funding implications.
RECOMMENDATION
11. The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to note the progress made to date.
JOHN PARRY JANET TOMLINSON Director for Community Safety Director for Children, Young & Chief Fire Officer People & Families
NEIL MONAGHAN Head of Property Services Environment & Economy
Background papers: 19 September 2006 Cabinet Report 18 September 2007 Cabinet Report
Contact Officer: Mike Smyth, Head of Service Delivery, Fire & Rescue and Emergency Planning Tel: (01865) 855206
June 2008
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