Do different types of schools require different fire risk assessments?

The fire risks present in a school can vary depending on the type of educational environment. Primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, and special educational needs schools all have different building layouts, activities, and occupancy levels that influence fire safety planning. For example, science laboratories, workshops, or commercial kitchens introduce different hazards compared to standard classrooms. A professional school fire risk assessment takes these factors into account and tailors the assessment to the specific activities and building design of the premises.

Do school fire risk assessments include temporary classrooms or modular buildings?

Temporary classrooms, modular buildings, and portable structures must always be included in a fire risk assessment for schools. These structures are often added to accommodate increased pupil numbers or building renovations, but they still require appropriate fire detection, safe escape routes, and suitable fire separation from other buildings. Assessing these structures ensures that fire safety measures remain consistent across the entire school site.

Can a fire risk assessment help improve evacuation procedures in schools?

One of the key outcomes of a school fire risk assessment is reviewing how safely pupils and staff can evacuate the building during an emergency. Assessors will evaluate escape routes, alarm audibility, assembly points, and the ability of staff to manage an evacuation. This is particularly important in schools where young children or pupils with additional needs may require assistance during evacuation.

Do after-school activities affect fire risk assessments in schools?

Many schools host activities outside normal teaching hours, including sports clubs, community events, or evening classes. These additional uses may increase building occupancy or introduce new fire risks. A fire risk assessment should consider how the building is used throughout the day and ensure that fire safety procedures remain effective during all activities.

Can Asco provide follow-up fire safety work for schools?

If your school’s fire risk assessment identifies improvements that need to be made, we can support you with the required remedial work. This may include upgrades to fire alarm systems, emergency lighting, fire doors, or fire extinguishers. Once improvements have been completed, we can also revisit the premises and update the fire risk assessment documentation to ensure everything remains compliant.

Can Asco carry out fire risk assessments during school holidays or outside teaching hours?

We understand that schools operate on strict schedules and may prefer work to be carried out outside of teaching hours to minimise disruption. Our assessors can arrange fire risk assessments in schools during quieter periods such as holidays, inset days, or after school hours, wherever possible.

School Fire Risk Assessments

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Fire risk assessments for educational premises

Schools are busy environments with large numbers of pupils, staff, and visitors moving through buildings every day. Ensuring that these buildings remain safe in the event of a fire is a critical responsibility for school leaders, facilities managers, and governing bodies.

A professional school fire risk assessment helps identify potential fire hazards, evaluate the effectiveness of existing safety measures, and ensure that evacuation procedures can be carried out safely if an emergency occurs.

At Asco, we provide specialist fire risk assessments for schools across Scotland and the UK. Our experienced assessors work with headteachers, school business managers, academy trusts, local authorities, and facilities teams to evaluate fire risks within educational buildings and provide practical recommendations to improve safety.

Why fire risk assessments are essential in schools

Educational environments present unique fire safety challenges. Schools may contain hundreds of pupils, some of whom are young children who rely on staff guidance during evacuation. In addition, many school buildings contain specialist areas such as science laboratories, kitchens, assembly halls, and workshops that can introduce additional fire risks. A professional school fire risk assessment helps ensure these risks are properly identified and managed.

A thorough fire risk assessment for schools will help to:

Identify pupils, staff, and visitors who may be at risk
Evaluate potential fire hazards within classrooms and communal spaces
Ensure safe evacuation routes are maintained
Review fire detection and alarm systems
Assess fire safety procedures and staff training
Provide documentation required for compliance and inspections

By carrying out regular fire risk assessments in schools, education providers can protect pupils, staff, and visitors while meeting their legal responsibilities under fire safety legislation.

Fire safety regulations and responsibility for schools

Schools and educational premises in Scotland must comply with the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

These laws require those responsible for managing premises to assess fire risks and implement appropriate measures to protect occupants. In schools, this responsibility typically falls to the ‘Responsible Person’, who may include:

Headteachers
School business managers
Facilities managers
Local authorities
Academy trusts or governing bodies

A professional school fire risk assessment provides the documentation and guidance required to demonstrate that fire safety risks have been properly assessed and managed.

Regular assessments also help schools prepare for inspections from fire authorities or local councils.

Common fire risks in schools

Science laboratories

Laboratories may contain flammable chemicals, electrical equipment, and specialist apparatus that can increase fire risk if not properly stored or used.

Kitchens and catering areas

Many schools operate kitchens or food preparation areas, which involve cooking equipment and heat sources. These areas must be properly ventilated and protected with suitable fire detection and suppression measures.

Electrical equipment

Classrooms often contain computers, projectors, chargers, and other electrical devices. Faulty equipment or overloaded sockets can increase the risk of electrical fires.

Assembly halls and shared spaces

Large areas such as assembly halls, sports facilities, and auditoriums may contain significant numbers of occupants at once. Fire safety measures must ensure these spaces can be evacuated quickly and safely.

What does a school fire risk assessment include?

A school fire risk assessment evaluates the entire building to identify hazards, assess fire protection systems, and determine how effectively the building could be evacuated in an emergency.

At Asco, our assessors examine a wide range of fire safety elements, including:

Fire alarm and detection systems
Emergency lighting and illuminated escape routes
Fire doors and compartmentation
Escape routes and evacuation procedures
Science laboratories and specialist teaching areas
Kitchen facilities and catering equipment
Electrical installations and equipment
Assembly halls, sports areas, and shared spaces
Fire safety signage and information
Staff fire safety training and procedures

Each assessment provides a detailed risk assessment of fire hazards within the school, allowing responsible persons to understand the current level of risk and implement improvements where necessary.

Our approach to school fire risk assessments

Site inspection and hazard identification

Our assessors begin by conducting a detailed inspection of the school premises. This includes evaluating the layout of buildings, fire detection systems, escape routes, and areas where fire hazards may be present. We also consider how pupils and staff would evacuate the building during an emergency.

Risk evaluation and action planning

Once hazards are identified, we assess the level of risk and provide a prioritised list of recommended improvements. This ensures schools receive a practical school fire risk assessment report that clearly explains what actions should be taken to improve fire safety.

PAS 79-compliant reporting

We produce structured fire risk assessment reports using the recognised PAS 79 methodology, which is widely used throughout the UK fire safety industry. Reports include photographic evidence of hazards, clear explanations of risks, and prioritised action plans to support compliance and safety improvements.

What happens after your school fire risk assessment?

Once your school’s fire risk assessment has been completed, you will receive a comprehensive report outlining the hazards identified and the actions required to improve fire safety within the building.

The report includes:

Photographic evidence of hazards
Prioritised recommendations for improvements
Guidance on strengthening fire safety systems

Some improvements may involve procedural changes, such as improving signage or evacuation planning. Others may require upgrades to fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire doors, or fire extinguishers.

We can also support schools by carrying out these improvements and revisiting the site to ensure fire safety measures have been fully implemented.

When should school fire risk assessments be reviewed?

A school fire risk assessment should not be considered a one-time document. It must be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains accurate and reflects the current layout and use of the building.

Schools should review their assessments whenever significant changes occur, such as:

Building renovations or structural changes
Reconfiguration of classrooms or learning spaces
Installation of new equipment or technology
Changes in building occupancy
Construction of temporary classrooms or extensions

Regular reviews ensure that fire risk assessments in schools remain effective and continue to protect pupils, staff, and visitors.

Multi-site fire risk assessments for schools and trusts

Many education providers manage multiple buildings across different locations.

At Asco, we support academy trusts, local authorities, and organisations responsible for multiple schools, providing consistent fire risk assessments across entire estates.

Through the backing of the LS Fire Group, we can support multi-site school fire risk assessments across Scotland and throughout the UK, helping organisations maintain consistent fire safety standards across all locations.

Book your school fire risk assessment today

Fire safety in schools is essential for protecting pupils, staff, and visitors. A professional school fire risk assessment ensures your buildings are safe, compliant, and prepared for emergencies.

If you’re in need of a fire risk assessment, contact us today. Our experienced assessors will work with your organisation to evaluate risks and provide practical recommendations that improve safety across your premises.

Fire safety is a responsibility that never rests and we’re here to implement complete fire protection for your business. Get in touch with our industry-leading experts to learn how we prevent fires, protect lives, and ensure compliance for you.

01414734821

[email protected]

School fire risk assessment FAQs

Do different types of schools require different fire risk assessments?: The fire risks present in a school can vary depending on the type of educational environment. Primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, and special educational needs schools all have different building layouts, activities, and occupancy levels that influence fire safety planning. For example, science laboratories, workshops, or commercial kitchens introduce different hazards compared to standard classrooms. A professional school fire risk assessment takes these factors into account and tailors the assessment to the specific activities and building design of the premises.
Do school fire risk assessments include temporary classrooms or modular buildings?: Temporary classrooms, modular buildings, and portable structures must always be included in a fire risk assessment for schools. These structures are often added to accommodate increased pupil numbers or building renovations, but they still require appropriate fire detection, safe escape routes, and suitable fire separation from other buildings. Assessing these structures ensures that fire safety measures remain consistent across the entire school site.
Can a fire risk assessment help improve evacuation procedures in schools?: One of the key outcomes of a school fire risk assessment is reviewing how safely pupils and staff can evacuate the building during an emergency. Assessors will evaluate escape routes, alarm audibility, assembly points, and the ability of staff to manage an evacuation. This is particularly important in schools where young children or pupils with additional needs may require assistance during evacuation.
Do after-school activities affect fire risk assessments in schools?: Many schools host activities outside normal teaching hours, including sports clubs, community events, or evening classes. These additional uses may increase building occupancy or introduce new fire risks. A fire risk assessment should consider how the building is used throughout the day and ensure that fire safety procedures remain effective during all activities.
Can Asco provide follow-up fire safety work for schools?: If your school’s fire risk assessment identifies improvements that need to be made, we can support you with the required remedial work. This may include upgrades to fire alarm systems, emergency lighting, fire doors, or fire extinguishers. Once improvements have been completed, we can also revisit the premises and update the fire risk assessment documentation to ensure everything remains compliant.
Can Asco carry out fire risk assessments during school holidays or outside teaching hours?: We understand that schools operate on strict schedules and may prefer work to be carried out outside of teaching hours to minimise disruption. Our assessors can arrange fire risk assessments in schools during quieter periods such as holidays, inset days, or after school hours, wherever possible.

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