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Fire Alarms in Schools

When a child goes to school there is more to consider than the quality of education they receive. A parent needs to have piece of mind that their children are in a safe and protected environment. Fire safety is of particular concern as hundreds of children under one roof can be seriously endangered if a fire were to break out. As a result, schools have adopted several codes, practices and considerations when implementing fire alarms.

  1. Minimum Code Requirements

    • There are some broad fire safety code requirements that schools have to adopt, such as the installation of manual fire boxes throughout the building. However schools may have additional requirements dictated by their individual state. An example of this would be a 1997 case in which a California school burned to the ground. Fortunately no one was injured however, California adjusted their codes to implement stricter requirements for automatic sprinkler and alarm systems. Additionally local cities may also contribute further requirements as their policy dictates.

    School Customization

    • Going beyond minimum fire alarm requirements, schools may customize the layout of the fire alarm configuration. It is important to take into account the type of school the alarm system is going in to. For elementary schools, basic code and minimum requirements may be sufficient however, a middle or high school with teenage children may place the manual alarm boxes inside of protective cages or out of reach to prevent tampering, vandalism and mischief.

    Beam Smoke Alarms

    • Beam smoke alarms are an example of special considerations given to structures with specific features. Rooms with high ceilings and rafters such as school auditoriums or gymnasiums often have beam smoke alarms as opposed to spot smoke detectors. These detectors are designed to cover large open ceiling areas where smoke and dirt can collect, which are more efficient and cost effective than traditional spot detection alarms that cover much smaller areas --- the school would require many in order for them to be effective.

    Price and Propriety

    • When a school district is faced with the task of implementing a fire alarm system they have to choose between utilizing different systems in each school or using just one company for the installation. There are benefits to both options however, as most school districts have several schools to manage. By using various companies for the installation in each school they would not be bound financially to just one provider. Alternatively, by using one provider a school may receive a discount for purchasing in bulk.

    Building Upgrades

    • Upgrades or changes to the school may have an adverse effect on the currently installed fire system. Schools are finding themselves faced with the task of accommodating an increasing number of students and, as a result, are constructing additions to the structure or implementing newer features. If a school is adding new classrooms, they will have to install additional fire detection devices in the new areas in order to remain under code.

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