CalmComplianceRisk Assessment template
School fire precautions assessment after significant premises alteration
- Version
- v1
- Updated
- 1 October 2026
- Audience
- Responsible persons and competent fire safety assessors supporting maintained and academy primary and secondary schools in England. Applicability remains conditional on a significant alteration having occurred or being planned.
- Jurisdiction
- england
Activity assessed
Assessment of whether fire precautions remain current and adequate following, or in anticipation of, a significant alteration to school premises. Consider the altered areas and their interfaces with the rest of the premises, changed occupancy and activities, escape arrangements, fire protection systems, management arrangements, plans and fire risk documentation. Verify existing controls and record proposed controls separately; do not assume that any control is present, effective or adopted without evidence.
Assess each hazard and its controls against your site before use. Template ratings require local review.
Hazards and controls
The alteration may have changed the layout, room uses, occupancy, fire compartments, fire-resisting construction or the relationship between altered and existing areas, so fire precautions may no longer be adequate for the premises as configured.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls have been provided. Verify the approved or as-built layout, room uses, occupancy assumptions, compartmentation and fire-resisting construction, including interfaces between the altered area and retained premises.
- Proposed controls
- Review the altered layout and intended use against the current fire strategy and fire risk assessment. Confirm the location and continuity of compartment boundaries, fire-resisting construction, protected routes and fire-stopping where relevant. Identify discrepancies, obtain competent technical advice where necessary, and record remedial actions with owners and target dates. Update fire risk documentation when the alteration changes the assessment.
Local assessment and additional controls
Changed room arrangements, doors, corridors, stairs or external routes may reduce the availability, capacity, suitability or clarity of means of escape for pupils, staff, visitors or other occupants.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls have been provided. Verify escape routes and final exits serving the altered and adjoining areas, including their availability during normal use, accessibility, travel paths, door operation and discharge arrangements.
- Proposed controls
- Reassess means of escape for the altered occupancy and activities. Confirm that routes and exits are suitable for the people who may use them, remain unobstructed and can be opened and used as intended. Identify any changes needed to doors, route protection, exit arrangements, management controls or information provided to occupants. Record temporary restrictions and compensatory arrangements where alteration work affects escape.
Local assessment and additional controls
Altered openings, door replacements, glazing, access controls or door hardware may compromise fire separation, self-closing, smoke control or the usability of protected routes.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls have been provided. Verify the fire performance, condition, installation and operation of relevant fire doors, frames, seals, closers, hold-open devices, access-control arrangements and other opening protection.
- Proposed controls
- Survey affected fire doors and opening protection against the applicable design and operational requirements. Repair, replace or adjust defective components through competent persons. Ensure that access-control and hold-open arrangements do not prevent doors from performing their fire function or impede escape. Add affected doors to appropriate inspection, testing and maintenance arrangements.
Local assessment and additional controls
Altered rooms, concealed spaces, acoustic conditions or occupancy patterns may mean that fire detection, alarm coverage or warning arrangements no longer provide suitable warning throughout affected areas.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls have been provided. Verify the installed fire detection and alarm coverage, audibility or visibility where relevant, zoning, interfaces and maintenance status for the altered and connected areas.
- Proposed controls
- Review the fire detection and alarm design and configuration following the alteration. Extend, relocate, reconfigure or test devices and interfaces where the changed layout, use or conditions require it. Confirm that warning can reach relevant occupants, including those who may need additional arrangements. Update testing, maintenance, zone information and emergency procedures where affected.
Local assessment and additional controls
Altered routes, changes in level, room functions or changes to the visibility of exits may leave emergency lighting, escape signage or fire action information incomplete, misleading or ineffective.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls have been provided. Verify emergency lighting, exit signage, route identification and fire action notices serving the altered and adjoining areas, including visibility under anticipated conditions.
- Proposed controls
- Review and revise emergency lighting and signage to reflect the altered means of escape and room uses. Provide or relocate equipment and signs where required by the verified assessment. Confirm that fire action information is consistent with the current arrangements and is communicated to relevant occupants.
Local assessment and additional controls
Changed hazards, room uses or access arrangements may make existing portable firefighting equipment unsuitable, insufficient, inaccessible or incorrectly located.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls have been provided. Verify the types, locations, accessibility, identification, condition and maintenance status of portable firefighting equipment relevant to the altered risks.
- Proposed controls
- Review firefighting equipment provision against the verified hazards and layout. Relocate, add, remove or change equipment only following an appropriate assessment. Keep equipment accessible and identified, maintain it through suitable arrangements, and ensure that relevant persons receive appropriate information and instruction without creating an expectation that untrained occupants should tackle fires.
Local assessment and additional controls
The alteration may introduce or change ignition sources, electrical installations, heating, cooking, hot work, combustible materials, waste, storage or hazardous substances, increasing the potential for fire or smoke development.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls have been provided. Identify and verify all new or changed ignition sources, combustible contents, storage arrangements, waste streams and hazardous substances associated with the alteration and its intended use.
- Proposed controls
- Assess changed fire loads and ignition sources. Control combustible storage and waste, maintain separation from ignition sources, manage hot work and other higher-risk activities where applicable, and verify electrical or other building services through competent persons. Provide suitable operating, housekeeping and permit arrangements where the verified risks require them.
Local assessment and additional controls
Changes to occupancy, age range, numbers, supervision, accessibility needs, visitors, contractors or activities may affect evacuation time, assistance arrangements and the suitability of emergency procedures.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls have been provided. Verify who may occupy the altered areas, when they may be present, their familiarity with the premises and any assistance or supervision needs relevant to evacuation.
- Proposed controls
- Review evacuation arrangements for the changed occupancy and activities. Define and communicate any required assistance, supervision, personal emergency arrangements, visitor arrangements or contractor controls. Reassess assembly and accountability arrangements where the alteration affects them. Test or exercise revised procedures where appropriate and record learning and further actions.
Local assessment and additional controls
During construction, phased occupation, temporary closure or incomplete commissioning, fire separation, escape routes, alarms, services or management arrangements may be disrupted or different from the intended final condition.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls have been provided. Establish whether works, phasing, temporary layouts, contractor activities or incomplete systems are present or planned, and verify the controls currently operating during those conditions.
- Proposed controls
- Prepare and maintain suitable temporary fire safety arrangements for each affected phase. Control hot work, combustible materials, access, temporary services, alarms, escape routes and contractor interfaces. Define handover and commissioning checks before occupation of altered areas. Remove temporary measures only when the permanent arrangements have been verified as operational and suitable.
Local assessment and additional controls
Out-of-date plans, fire strategies, fire risk assessments, maintenance records, emergency procedures or information for responding services may not reflect the altered premises or current precautions.
- Existing controls
- No site-specific existing controls have been provided. Identify the fire safety documents, plans, records and information affected by the alteration and verify their current status and consistency with the premises.
- Proposed controls
- Review and update affected fire risk documentation, plans, procedures, fire action information, maintenance schedules and handover records after verifying the changed premises and precautions. Ensure that relevant responsible persons, staff, contractors and other affected parties receive the information needed for their roles. Record unresolved actions, interim controls, responsible owners and review points linked to the alteration.
Local assessment and additional controls