Shockingly, there are more than 1,000 school fires a year in the UK, costing an average of £2.8m in larger incidents, with one education insurer reporting that the large majority of UK schools are found to have ‘poor’ fire protection systems.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires schools to undertake risk assessments to identify the general fire precautions needed to safeguard the safety of occupants in case of fire, including their safe means of escape.

But with fire protection systems failing time and time again, it is clear that more needs to be done.

Fire doors are one of the most important safety features in a building, and regular inspections are essential to fully ensure health and safety measures are met.

Education buildings can present highly specific requirements for fire doorsets, with particularly varied legislation and building regulations surrounding fire doors in schools.

As part of its commitment to fire door safety, Door Group provide a fully comprehensive inspection which can be carried out every three, four, six or twelve months to suit specific requirements.

Following inspections, Door Group offers detailed reports containing advice and recommendations on necessary improvements, with the knowledge that identifying any potential issues that could impact safety and product performance can be lifesaving.

If any issues do occur, a tailored repair proposal is issued to include anything from replacement doors to a regular maintenance program.

Door Group inspectors are BRE-certified and will ensure that all fire doors inspected meet all necessary standards and regulations.

Brian Sofley, MD for ASSA ABLOY Door Group, commented: “The figures we’re seeing regarding fires in the education sector are terrifying.

“An education building should be a safe and secure place for students and staff to work and learn, yet in recent inspections we have found a significant percentage (in some cases >90%) of fire doorsets in schools failing to meet fire compliancy requirements.

“Door Group is committed to making schools, colleges and universities across the UK fire protected. With regular and thorough inspections, we can ensure the compliance and performance of fire doorsets in an effort to improve overall fire safety in the educational environment.”