Each year around one in 20 schools experiences a fire with nearly 60 per cent of school fires being started deliberately. Building Bulletin 100 (BB 100) is a landmark publication in improving fire safety in schools, providing both a design tool and a management aid clearly showing how the requirements for life safety, enshrined in the Building Regulations, can be met in the design of a new school or an extension.
BB 100 differs from previous fire safety guides in that it stresses the importance of protecting the fabric and building envelope of schools and clearly warns about the risk of using combustible materials in cladding.
Archbishop McGrath RC Comprehensive is the latest Welsh School to suffer from the damaging affects of fire. The 700 pupil school hit the headlines earlier this month when 50 firefighters were called to tackle a blaze that had broke out within the school's Technology department. Starting at 3am on Wednesday 17th September, fire crews from Bridgend and neighbouring valleys were drafted in to contain the flames and prevent them spreading throughout the school.
Thankfully the fire was successfully extinguished however the cause of the blaze has not yet been established. The devastating effects are already being felt with the school facing thousands of pounds worth of damage and dozens of pupils losing valuable coursework and assignment materials.
The local council has recently granted the school planning permission to relocate to Brackla, which is due to open in September 2011. Designed by HLM Architects the dynamic building features Eurobond panel systems throughout the external envelop (pictured above).
Eurobond has long championed the use of non-combustible materials in composite cladding panel systems and the company’s external cladding systems, Europanel and Rockspan, are increasingly being specified for their superior fire performance. Both panel systems have a Rockwool stone wool core, which is non-combustible and will not ignite in the event of fire, nor contribute to fire spread or smoke emissions.
For further information on the recent Fire at Archbishop McGrath RC please click here
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