Fire Extinguishers in Schools and Academies
Give staff the tools to stop small fires early, protect pupils and property, and control ongoing costs without compromising safety.
Why fire safety in schools matters
Each year, more than 1,300 UK schools experience fires significant enough to require attendance by Fire and Rescue Services. Over half are classed as non-accidental. Government estimates put the cost of school fires at around £58 million per year in the early 2000s. Even small, unreported incidents can disrupt learning and budgets.
The Fire Industry Association found that 88% of fires were successfully put out by fire extinguishers, highlighting their value as a first line of defence. For schools and academies, the challenge is balancing strong protection with tight budgets.
Common causes of school fires
- Overloaded sockets or faulty electrics.
- Kitchen incidents involving cooking oils and appliances.
- Build up of combustibles like paper and wood, including bins and skips.
- Chemicals or hazardous substances in labs and prep rooms.
- Arson.
Department for Education guidance and legal framework
Based on Department for Education guidance for fire safety in schools and aligned to BS 5306-8:2012 where requirements have since changed.
- Provision - in general, provide one 13A rated water based extinguisher per 200m² with a minimum of two per floor. Adjust for room size, layout and risk.
- Travel distance - position extinguishers so that the walking distance to the nearest unit does not exceed 30m on escape routes.
- Siting - locate at final exits, corridor junctions, stair landings, near but not on the hazard, and so they are clearly visible and accessible.
- Rooms needing specific provision - laboratories, workshops, stages, kitchens and boiler rooms require appropriate types for the risks present.
- Signage and mounting - mount on brackets or in cabinets, mark positions with ID signs, and keep clear of obstructions.
The exact number and type must be set by your fire risk assessment, as required by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
How many extinguishers do schools need?
As a planning rule of thumb used by the Department for Education, provide one 13A rated water based extinguisher per 200m² with a minimum of two per floor, then adjust for the specific risks and room use identified in your assessment.
Where should extinguishers be positioned?
- On escape routes and near exits so people move toward a safe way out.
- Within 30m travel distance of likely users.
- Close to hazards, but not so close that a fire could block access.
- Mounted on the wall with a bracket or stored in a cabinet or stand.
- Clearly signed and kept unobstructed.
Which extinguishers should schools use?
| Location | Common fire risks | Suitable extinguishers |
|---|---|---|
| Corridors and classrooms | Paper, wood, textiles, plastics, furniture, electrical equipment | |
| Laboratories, technology and art rooms | Paper, wood, textiles, plastics, paint, flammable liquids & gases, electrical equipment | |
| IT classrooms and stage lighting areas | Paper, wood, textiles, plastics, electrical equipment, lighting | |
| Kitchens | Paper, wood, textiles, plastics, flammable liquids & gases, electrical appliances | |
| Cooking oil, deep fat fryers | ||
| Boiler rooms | Oil, gas, electrical appliances, cleaning materials and chemicals | |
| Server rooms | Electrical equipment |
What maintenance is required for school fire extinguishers?
It is essential that fire extinguishers are maintained so that they are ready for use in an emergency. This is the responsibility of the School Fire Safety Officer. Traditional steel extinguishers such as Foam, Water Mist Extinguisher or CO2 require annual servicing from a qualified engineer. Our extinguisher servicing reminders are a useful tool to ensure servicing is not forgotten.
P50 Service-Free Fire Extinguishers do not require annual servicing from a trained engineer. They can instead be inspected each year by a member of your staffing team who has been trained on the P50 3-step inspection process.
Our servicing packages & customers
If you require fire extinguisher servicing our nationwide service is 100% transparent with clear pricing, no hidden charges and a one-off call out charge. All of our work is carried out in accordance to BS5306 and certified by BAFE certified engineers.
We have many satisfied customers of all sizes including:
- INTEGRAL UK, one of the largest independent providers of property maintenance services in the UK. Jason Granger, Portfolio Supervisor, commented, "Using Safelincs to service extinguishers helps me keep control of costs. Everything is transparent and they are easy to do business with. I shall be using them to provide servicing on more Integral sites."
- Metroline, a London bus company with a fleet of 1,682 buses. "We have a duty of care to ensure that our passengers remain safe," said Nik Phiniefs, Head Buyer for Metroline . "We selected Safelincs because they were very professional and totally transparent in their dealings. There are no hidden charges so we can accurately forecast our expenditure."
- Holy Trinity and St Mary's parish churches, Guildford. "Safelincs is providing a positive, swift, reliable and, above all, honest service," says Parish Administrator Michèle Lyon. "The prices are clearly published and there are no hidden charges. Everything is transparent and I feel that I am in control of my costs now. Money is very tight everywhere at the moment and I am sure many other churches would benefit from the service they provide. I shall continue to use them."
How to cut costs without compromising safety
Fire safety is essential, but it does not have to be expensive. Schools and academies can significantly reduce long-term costs by choosing the right equipment and service model, without putting pupils or staff at risk.
- Traditional steel extinguishers require annual servicing by an external engineer, adding up to thousands over the lifetime of the units.
- They typically last only 10 to 12 years before replacement is needed.
- Foam or water units are often paired with CO2 extinguishers, meaning more units to buy and maintain.
Why P50 Service Free Extinguishers save money
- No annual engineer servicing — a caretaker carries out a simple 3-step inspection each year.
- Supplied with a 10 year manufacturer’s warranty, then refurbished for another 10 years of service — giving a total of 20 years’ use.
- Often a P50 Water Mist Extinguisher can replace a Foam or Water plus CO2 pair, reducing the total number of units on site.
- Constructed from corrosion-proof composite materials, so they will not rust and are lighter to handle.
- 100% recyclable at the end of life.
Case study: A district council in West Sussex fitted just over 50 P50 extinguishers and calculated savings of around £20,000 over 10 years.
The value of Water Mist Extinguishers
- Cover Class A, B, C and electrical fires in one unit, reducing the number of extinguishers required.
- Safe to use on clothing and food prep areas as they contain only de-ionised water — no chemicals and no contamination risk.
- Cause minimal clean-up and property damage compared to powder or foam.
- Create a mist curtain that cools and cuts off oxygen, protecting the user from heat.
Case study: Safelincs customer Snoozebox used a Water Mist Extinguisher extinguisher to put out a toaster fire in a catering area. The extinguisher stopped the fire immediately, and after PAT testing the toaster was put straight back into service with no damage or contamination.
Example outcomes for schools
- Fewer extinguishers required overall, especially in classrooms and corridors where Water Mist Extinguisher covers both combustibles and electrical risks.
- Lower servicing bills thanks to P50 inspections being done in-house.
- Reduced replacement costs — 20 years of life versus 10–12 for steel extinguishers.
- Less disruption to teaching after incidents thanks to clean, chemical-free discharge.
Want to see the potential savings for your site? Book a free site survey and our team will calculate the cost difference.
Training for staff
Employers must provide appropriate fire safety training so staff can act swiftly and confidently. We offer group sessions at your school tailored to your environment, plus other course options.
Protecting extinguishers in schools
Extinguishers in busy areas can be damaged or vandalised. Protect them with locked or alarmed extinguisher cabinets such as the Jonesco Fire Extinguisher Cabinet which includes a key lock and alarm. The key is stored behind glass and an alarm sounds when the glass is broken to release it.