Fire Safety, Security and Electrical Services for Schools and Colleges in Hampshire and West Sussex
Schools, colleges and universities present a particular fire safety and security challenge: large numbers of children, young people and staff in buildings that are unoccupied for significant periods outside term time, with a duty of care that extends to safeguarding as well as fire safety and electrical compliance. Getting the full range of protection right - from fire alarm system design to CCTV for safeguarding, access control for visitor management and electrical compliance across the entire estate - requires a contractor who understands the education sector.
We provide fire safety, security and electrical services for schools, colleges and universities across Hampshire and West Sussex - BAFE SP203-accredited fire alarm installation and maintenance, safeguarding-compliant CCTV, access control, EICR, PAT testing and passive fire protection, all managed under a single contract with one point of contact.
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BAFE SP203-accredited fire alarm system design for schools - correctly specified per BS 5839-1
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Fire risk assessments for all education building types
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SSAIB-certified CCTV - safeguarding-compliant, designed for education environments
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Access control for visitor management and restricted area security
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SSAIB-certified intruder alarms for out-of-hours site security
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NICEIC-approved EICR inspections for school buildings
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PAT testing - competitive bulk rates for high appliance counts
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Passive fire protection through Aran Fire Protection - FIRAS-certified
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Covering Hampshire, West Sussex and the South Coast
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Fire Safety for Schools and Colleges
All schools, colleges and universities are subject to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The responsible person - the head teacher, principal or governing body - must ensure that adequate fire safety measures are in place, maintained and reviewed regularly. For larger or multi-building education estates, a systematic approach to fire safety maintenance is the most efficient way to maintain compliance across all buildings.
Fire alarm systems for schools must be designed to BS 5839-1 and must take into account the specific characteristics of the building - its size, layout, construction, the number of pupils and staff, and the activities carried out within it. Most schools require a Category L2 or L1 system, with addressable fire alarm panels recommended for larger or more complex buildings where the precise location of a fire or fault must be identifiable at the control panel. We provide BAFE SP203-accredited fire alarm system design and installation for schools across Hampshire and West Sussex.
See our Fire Alarms page for full details on fire alarm systems →
Addressable fire alarm systems are particularly well-suited to school environments. Each detector and call point on an addressable system has its own unique address, meaning the fire alarm panel displays the precise location of any activation or fault. In a large school with multiple buildings, corridors and classrooms, this allows staff and emergency services to respond to the correct location immediately. We design and install addressable fire alarm systems for secondary schools, colleges and multi-building primary school sites across Hampshire and West Sussex.
School fire alarms must be tested weekly by a nominated, competent staff member, with results recorded in the fire logbook. Full inspection and testing by a BAFE SP203-accredited engineer must be carried out every six months. We schedule maintenance visits outside teaching hours wherever possible, provide full service reports and offer logbook management support to schools who want to ensure their records are always up to date.
All schools are required to have a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, reviewed annually and whenever there is a significant change to the building, its layout or its occupancy. For schools, the fire risk assessment must address evacuation procedures for pupils with mobility impairments or special educational needs, fire drill frequency and records, and the adequacy of fire detection and means of escape throughout the entire premises.
Emergency lighting must be installed in all school buildings on escape routes and in all areas where lighting failure could cause risk - including corridors, stairwells, halls and communal areas. Systems must be designed to BS 5266-1, tested monthly and inspected by a competent engineer every six months with full certification. We provide emergency lighting installation, servicing and six-monthly certification for schools across Hampshire and West Sussex.
Security Systems for Schools and Colleges
School and college security has risen significantly up the agenda in recent years. DfE guidance explicitly references the importance of physical security measures as part of a school's safeguarding framework. CCTV, access control and intruder alarms each address different aspects of school security - and all three should be considered as part of a coherent security strategy for any education premises.
CCTV in schools serves two distinct purposes: safeguarding and site security. For safeguarding, cameras in corridors, entrances and external areas support the school's duty to protect pupils and staff. For site security, external cameras covering car parks, entrances and perimeter areas deter vandalism and break-ins during out-of-hours periods, which represent the majority of security incidents at school premises. We design and install CCTV systems for schools that address both requirements, with systems configured to comply with ICO guidance on CCTV in educational settings and the school's own data protection policies.
Controlling who enters a school building is a fundamental safeguarding obligation. Access control systems for schools typically include door entry systems at main entrances with reception intercom and remote release, electronic access control on doors connecting teaching areas to public-facing spaces, and in secondary schools, access management for sixth form areas or restricted facilities. Integration with CCTV at entry points allows reception staff to visually verify visitors before granting access.
Schools are among the most frequently targeted premises for out-of-hours break-ins and vandalism. An SSAIB-certified intruder alarm system with remote monitoring provides rapid notification of any unauthorised entry when the premises are unoccupied and, combined with CCTV, provides an evidential record. Our intruder alarm installations for schools can be configured with zoned detection covering teaching areas, IT suites, sports facilities and external buildings, with notification to the key holder or monitoring centre on activation.
Electrical Compliance for Schools and Colleges
Schools and colleges contain a significant volume of electrical equipment - IT across classrooms and offices, kitchen and catering equipment, science lab equipment, sports hall and performing arts equipment and general domestic appliances in staff areas. Ensuring that the electrical installation is in a satisfactory condition and that all equipment is safe is a compliance obligation under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and PUWER 1998.
All school buildings require periodic electrical inspection and testing under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. The IET recommends that educational premises are inspected at intervals not exceeding five years. For older school buildings with ageing electrical infrastructure, more frequent inspection may be appropriate. We carry out EICR inspections for schools and colleges across Hampshire and West Sussex, with NICEIC-approved engineers, full certification on completion and remedial works capability where defects are identified.
See our EICR page for full details on periodic electrical inspection →
The volume and variety of electrical equipment in schools - from classroom IT and interactive boards to science lab equipment and kitchen appliances - makes a regular PAT testing programme an important part of the school's health and safety management. Local authorities and multi-academy trusts increasingly require evidence of regular PAT testing as part of their estate management standards. We provide PAT testing for schools of all sizes, with competitive bulk rates and certificates provided on completion.
Passive Fire Protection for Schools and Colleges
Passive fire protection is a requirement in all school buildings under Building Regulations and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Schools undergo regular refurbishments, classroom reconfiguration, IT infrastructure upgrades and HVAC works - all of which can create service penetrations in compartment walls and floors that, if not correctly fire stopped, compromise the building's compartmentation. Over time, these accumulated breaches can significantly reduce the effectiveness of the passive fire protection system.
Fire doors are particularly important in school environments - they must be maintained in good condition and must self-close correctly. Wedged-open fire doors are a common finding in school fire safety audits and represent a significant risk to the integrity of escape routes. A programme of regular fire door inspections identifies defects early and allows them to be remediated before they become a compliance or safety issue.
Passive fire protection works are delivered through our specialist sister company, Aran Fire Protection - FIRAS-certified passive fire protection specialists with over 25 years of experience. Arundel Firecare, Security and Electrical remains your single point of contact.
See our Passive Fire Protection Hub for our full range of passive fire services →
See our Fire Door Surveys page for fire door inspection programmes →
Frequently Asked Questions
The required fire alarm system for a school is determined by the fire risk assessment. Most schools require a Category L2 or L1 system to BS 5839-1. Addressable systems are recommended for larger or multi-building schools. Contact us to arrange a fire alarm survey and we will confirm the appropriate system specification for your school.
School fire alarms must be tested weekly by a nominated staff member and inspected by a BAFE SP203-accredited engineer every six months. Results must be recorded in the fire logbook. We provide scheduled six-monthly service visits and issue full service reports on completion.
Schools do not require a specific type of CCTV system, but any system installed must be operated in compliance with ICO guidance on surveillance cameras in schools, the school's own data protection policy and UK GDPR. Cameras should not cover areas where pupils have a reasonable expectation of privacy. We design and install school CCTV systems that meet both the security and data protection requirements of the education sector.
Fire Safety, Security and Electrical Services for Schools in Hampshire and West Sussex
Fire alarm system design, security systems and electrical compliance for schools, colleges and universities across Hampshire and West Sussex.
From Our Knowledge Centre
Our fire safety team has written extensively on compliance obligations, system types and sector-specific requirements. Visit our Knowledge Centre for articles, guides and PDF downloads covering fire alarms, fire extinguishers, fire risk assessments and more.
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Looking for a complete compliance package? We manage fire alarms, emergency lighting, passive fire protection, security and EICR under one annual service.