§ Mr. Gerald HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what plans he has for(a) issuing guidance and (b) making it a statutory obligation that existing system built schools should have the level of compartmentation fire protection increased to meet the levels required by the current building regulations; [177591]
(2) what assessment has been made of the fire risk associated with CLASP and SCOLA buildings; and how many schools are constructed in this way; [177592]
(3) what plans he has to change the regulations for upgrading the level of compartmentation fire protection in system built structures such as those of CLASP and SCOLA design. [177593]
§ Mr. MilibandExemption for schools from the Building Regulations ended in April 2001 and since that date all new building work at schools, including system built schools, has been subject to approval under the Building Regulations. The fire safety aspects of the Building Regulations are not retrospective.
The Department is in the process of producing new guidance on fire safety for schools. Building Bulletin 100, "Designing against the risk of fire in Schools", will give guidance on the design of new schools as well as the refurbishment of existing schools to at least the current standards of the Building Regulations. The guide is comprehensive and stresses the value of using risk assessments as the basis for determining, for example, the types of fire alarm and detection systems needed in particular school buildings. It will be aimed at schools, local education authorities (LEAs), design consultants, building control bodies and the fire and rescue service. It is likely, subject to consultation, that the forthcoming revised Approved Document B accompanying the Building Regulations will refer to this guide for fire safety standards in schools.
The Department does not have figures for how many schools were constructed using the CLASP or SCOLA systems. However, all LEAs have produced asset 770W management plans covering all the maintained schools in their areas. These surveyed the condition, suitability and sufficiency of school buildings, and should have highlighted and prioritised any apparent health and safety problems associated with them. Fire safety issues would have been included and any obvious risks should have been addressed.
The Department's primary concern is for the safety of pupils, teachers and other users. Regulation 17 of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 requires that every part of a school building, and of the land provided for a school, shall be such that the safe escape of the occupants in case of fire is reasonably assured. Schools also covered by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and by subsequent related regulations. These include aspects of fire safety.