Schools require fire safety design that accounts for young occupants, large assembly spaces, and limited supervision. A guide to BB100 and current DfE requirements.. School Fire Safety Framework Building Bulletin 100 (BB100) is the primary guidance document for fire safety design in school buildings. Published by the Department for Education, it supplements Approved Document B with school specific requirements. Key BB100 Principles 1. Evacuation strategy — always simultaneous evacuation; no stay put 2. Travel distances — reduced compared to ADB due to occupant characteristics 3. Exit widths — calculated on basis of total occupancy per storey 4. Assembly spaces — halls and dining rooms require specific attention to exit capacity 5. Fire detection — L2 category minimum; L1 in residential schools (boarding) Age Specific Considerations Early Years / Nursery: Ground floor only Direct external escape Adult to child ratios affect evacuation time Sleeping children require L1 detection Primary Schools: Limited ability to follow complex instructions Adults responsible for managing evacuation Escape routes must be simple and direct Regular fire drills essential (at least termly) Secondary Schools: Greater self evacuation capability But behavioural risks (deliberate alarm activation, arson) Laboratory and workshop specific risks DT rooms with machinery and combustible materials SEND Schools Schools for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities present additional challenges: Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) for every pupil Evacuation chairs and refuges where vertical escape needed Sensory impairment — visual and auditory alarm systems Behavioural considerations — some pupils may resist evacuation Common Deficiencies in School FRAs Kitchen extract ductwork not fire rated or cleaned regularly Science prep rooms with inadequate chemical storage Fire doors propped open during term time Overcrowded cloakroom areas blocking escape routes Temporary structures (portacabins) with inadequate fire separation For school fire safety design, contact us. Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD — UK's Leading Fire Safety & Fire Engineering Consultancy 🌐 magnus opifex.co.uk 📞 +44 7486 691724 ✉️ office@magnus opifex.co.uk Founders: Nicoleta Vasile, Baroness of Brattleby — CEO, Lawyer and Barrister, Legal & Administrative Director Alina — Technical Director & Expert Fire Engineer (BEng) Head Office: Ealing Cross, 85 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5BW Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD delivers engineering led fire engineering, fire risk assessments, CFD modelling, and building safety consultancy across the United Kingdom and internationally. With over 20 years of combined experience and a UK portfolio spanning healthcare, residential and infrastructure, we bring truly engineered solutions with a personal touch. © 2026 Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD. All rights reserved.