Page 1052 - Reading Mercury

The fire precautions at Berkshire's 550 schools are likely to be reinforced, following
reports concerning the February blaze at the Emmbrook County Secondary School,
Wokingham. Under consideration is a detection system which will raise an alarm to a
permanently manned point, such as the caretaker's premises, while biennial inspection
of all schools is also being debated.
Reports from the County Fire Officer and the County Architect were discussed by
the Berkshire Property Sub-Committee yesterday (Wednesday). Mr. R.C.N. Paul, the
County Architect, said that the fire was believed to have started in the lockers in the
dining/ social area at about 6.30 p. m. on February 13th, and the first call to the Fire
Brigade was timed at 7.38 a.m. next day.
No evidence was found to suggest the cause of the fire, although the severity of the
damage suggested it had been smouldering for a long time. Had. the fire started while
the building was occupied it would probably have been discovered and extinguished
with little or no risk to the occupants. Because of the low risk to occupants in day
school buildings, it had not been Council policy to install automatic fire systems,
linked to either the caretaker of direct to the Fire Brigade.
The loss or damage to a building, in the rare instances it occurred, would be covered
by the County’s blanket insurance policy. The intensity of the fire at Emmbrook was
such that certain materials were inadequate to resist the spread, although the materials
complied with regulations.
The steel roof deck, though non-inflammable, could not prevent ignition of the
insulation and roofing: felt above the deck and the spread of the fire across the roof.
The plasterboard linings to the internal partitions collapsed under the intense heat over
such a long period, exposing the timber frames behind them.
Mr. Paul did not consider it would be practicable to specify materials in a school
building so that a fire not discovered until after a substantial period of time, would not
spread or break out resulting in extensive damage. However, he was concerned about
the proximity of other buildings to the fire particularly a transportable building which
was only l0 feet away.
The Fire Officer, Mr. K.C. Bridges, said that automatic means of detecting a fire
had not been recommended in any previous reports on schools and would generally be
considered only for residential buildings or business premises.
It would, however, provide some advantages. A fire would be detected in a short
time and the alarm given, and the sooner a fire was discovered the more quickly the
building could be evacuated. Early detection would also limit the fire, smoke and heat
damage.
It would not be possible even if it was considered desirable for the Brigade to accept
connections from all schools.
Mr. Bridges suggested that the simplest, and most positive arrangement, to protect
school - buildings, and one which was more economical, would be a detection system,
which raised an alarm not only in the building itself, but also to a point permanently
manned by a member of the staff, perhaps the caretaker.
The Fire Officer also raised the question of school inspections. A number of schools
had been visited at the request of the head teacher or because they required music
licences. He was obtaining a complete list of properties from which they would pick
up those schools which had not been inspected and he visualised that they would get
first priority in any eventual programme of inspections.
Mr. Bridges said he hoped it would be possible in future to visit every-school
biennially, although it was not possible to say how soon they would catch up. The

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