Oracle FM delivers fire risk assessments, fire door and compartmentation programmes, electrical testing and planned maintenance for schools, colleges, universities and student accommodation. Education estates have to stay compliant without disrupting teaching, and every visit has to fit the setting's safeguarding arrangements as well as the academic calendar.
The obligations behind an education estate
In England and Wales, schools, colleges and universities are covered by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. The responsible person must carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment, put appropriate precautions in place and keep fire safety facilities maintained. The Home Office guide to fire risk assessment for educational premises covers schools, academies, universities and similar buildings in England, but not residential accommodation such as halls of residence.
For schools in England, the Department for Education's Good estate management for schools guidance sets out what responsible bodies should be doing. Its health and safety section covers, among other things:
- An appropriate and up-to-date fire risk assessment for all premises under the school's control, which schools should consider reviewing annually, or at least every three years.
- Regular maintenance of fire doors by competent people, including self-closers, hold-open devices that release on alarm, glazing and signage.
- Weekly fire alarm tests, with quarterly and annual inspections by a competent person.
- Monthly emergency lighting flash tests and a six-monthly condition test that includes a three-hour battery test.
- Periodic inspection of fixed electrical installations under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, at intervals based on risk rather than a fixed legal period.
- An asbestos management survey, register and plan, with asbestos information given to contractors before they start work. DfE's asbestos guidance for schools and colleges explains these duties.
Safeguarding applies to contractors too. Keeping children safe in education 2026, statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England, says schools should set out safeguarding requirements in the contract, make sure contractors have the appropriate level of DBS check, and check their identity on arrival. A contractor without checks must not work unsupervised or engage in regulated activity.
DfE guidance applies to England. Schools in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland follow their own education and fire safety frameworks.
Common problems on education sites
- Fire doors in heavily used corridors damaged, wedged open or fitted with failing closers.
- Fire stopping breached by IT, AV and data cabling added over many years.
- Older buildings and extensions of different ages, with compartmentation that is hard to trace.
- Electrical observations in teaching areas that can only be closed when rooms are empty.
- Works that need asbestos information before they can start.
How we plan works around term time
Good planning starts with the fire risk assessment, asbestos register, previous test reports and the school calendar. Disruptive work, isolations and remedials in teaching spaces are usually best planned for holidays, half terms or weekends. Inspections and smaller remedials can often run in term time when access, supervision and safeguarding arrangements are agreed in advance with the school or estates team.
We deliver education programmes without disrupting term time, with clear scheduling and documentation, so the responsible body can see what is complete and what is outstanding.
Relevant services
- Fire risk assessments for schools, colleges and university buildings.
- Fire door inspections and fire stopping and compartmentation surveys.
- Fire alarm and emergency lighting maintenance.
- EICR testing and electrical remedials.
- M&E and reactive maintenance and planned maintenance.
Student accommodation experience
Student accommodation is a core part of our education work, and we support operators and universities to keep buildings safe and certified. For one student accommodation operator, we delivered an insurance reinstatement after a flood: strip-out, drying and refurbishment across eight units over six weeks, with reports prepared for the loss adjuster. See more of our projects.
Larger blocks of student accommodation may also fall under the residential building safety duties described on our high-rise residential page. To discuss a school, college or campus programme, contact our team.