Protect Pupils, Staff and School Buildings Without Disrupting Learning
School fire and security systems need to protect busy teaching spaces, control who enters the site, support safeguarding procedures and keep working through lessons, exams, clubs and lettings. We design, install and maintain systems around the school day rather than forcing the school day around the work.
- Established in 1981
- BAFE accredited
- SSAIB certified
- Fire and security from one team
What fire and security systems does a school need?
A school usually needs a risk led combination of fire detection and alarm, emergency lighting, firefighting equipment, access control, visitor entry, CCTV, intruder protection and planned maintenance. The final system should reflect the fire risk assessment, safeguarding procedures, building layout, pupil needs, site use and emergency arrangements.
A school is not an office with more doors.
Fire safety, safeguarding, pupil movement and operational disruption all have to be considered together.
Safeguarding starts at the entrance
Visitors, contractors and deliveries need a controlled route into the building rather than unacknowledged access to pupil areas.
The timetable limits disruption
Installation work needs to fit around lessons, exams, clubs, lettings and holiday deadlines without leaving systems unfinished at handover.
Sites evolve over decades
Main buildings, extensions, temporary classrooms, sports facilities and specialist areas can end up with different systems that still need to work coherently.
Access changes through the day
Doors may need different permissions for arrival, lesson change, lunch, clubs and community use without weakening site security.
False alarms cost teaching time
Detector choice, system condition and sensible zoning matter because repeated unwanted alarms reduce confidence and interrupt learning.
Records need to be ready
Fire risk assessments, service reports, logbooks, tests and remedial actions should be current and easy for the responsible people to retrieve.
The guidance that shapes fire safety and security in schools.
The school remains responsible for its risk assessments, procedures, safeguarding arrangements and emergency planning.
Fire Safety Order 2005
Schools must assess fire risk and maintain suitable fire precautions, warning systems, escape routes, firefighting equipment, emergency arrangements and staff information.
Educational premises fire safety guidanceFire safety in school buildings
Department for Education guidance requires existing schools to keep fire risk assessments up to date, maintain fire detection and alarm systems and ensure staff and pupils know the evacuation procedures.
School building fire safety guidanceSchool estate management
Good estate management guidance says fire risk assessments should be reviewed regularly, particularly when the building, its use or the risks change.
School estate health and safety guidanceKeeping Children Safe in Education 2026
The current statutory guidance sets the safeguarding duties schools and colleges must follow. Physical security should support the school's safeguarding policies and procedures rather than operate separately from them.
KCSIE 2026School and college security
Current government security guidance says good access control is essential during the school day and visitors should report to reception rather than moving around the site unacknowledged.
School and college security guidanceMartyn's Law preparation
The Terrorism Protection of Premises Act 2025 is not yet in force. When commenced, qualifying childcare, primary, secondary and further education premises with 200 or more people expected at the same time will be treated as standard tier even where the expected number is 800 or more.
Martyn's Law for education settingsFire and security systems for schools from one coordinated team.
New installations, upgrades, maintenance and system takeovers can be phased around term dates and budget priorities.
School fire alarm systems
Commercial fire alarm design, installation, upgrades and servicing planned around classrooms, circulation spaces, specialist rooms and separate blocks.
- New fire alarm installation
- Addressable fire detection
- Panel and detector upgrades
- Cause and effect for agreed interfaces
- Fire alarm servicing and fault support
Fire risk assessments, emergency lighting and extinguishers
The fire risk assessment should drive priorities, with supporting equipment maintained and recorded as part of one clear compliance plan.
- Written fire risk assessments
- Emergency lighting testing
- Fire extinguisher supply and servicing
- Remedial action planning
- Maintenance records and certification
School access control and visitor entry
Control who enters, where staff and pupils can go and how doors behave at different times of the school day.
- Reception door entry and intercom
- Staff and pupil credentials
- Timed door schedules
- Restricted area permissions
- Lockdown and alarm interface planning
School CCTV and intruder alarms
Protect entrances, agreed internal areas, perimeters, equipment and buildings out of hours while keeping footage access controlled.
- Entrance and perimeter CCTV
- Evidence quality recording
- Intruder alarm protection
- Monitoring and signalling where required
- Existing system maintenance
Timed door control across a live school site.
A networked Paxton access control system was installed to improve pupil flow at set times and prevent unauthorised access to restricted areas. The project included video intercom connected to existing automatic doors and software that allowed the site team to manage credentials and future expansion.
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Can the systems still work when the site is busiest?
Arrival, lesson change, lunch and home time all put different pressure on the site.
School security needs to control entry without creating bottlenecks, while fire safety needs escape routes and door responses to remain dependable throughout the day.
Timed access control, clear reception procedures, appropriate CCTV coverage and properly maintained fire systems can support those routines when each system is designed around how the school actually operates.
Changing provider does not automatically mean replacing serviceable equipment.
We can review supported fire alarms, emergency lighting, extinguishers, access control, CCTV and intruder systems installed by another company. The next step can be maintenance, fault correction, a phased upgrade or replacement where the existing system is no longer suitable.
Planned around the school day.
School site survey
We review existing systems, pupil and visitor routes, fire safety requirements, restricted areas and the operational timetable.
Clear written proposal
The scope separates urgent work, sensible improvements and phased options that can be planned around available budgets.
Timetable aware installation
Work is planned around lessons, exams, after school activity, holidays, noise restrictions and agreed isolations.
Ongoing maintenance
Testing, servicing, faults and certificates follow one planned schedule with a clear route for support.
School fire and security questions.
There is no single fire alarm specification for every school. The fire risk assessment, building design, pupil needs, escape strategy and use of specialist areas should determine the required category, detection coverage, zoning and warning arrangements.
The maintenance schedule should follow the applicable fire alarm standard, system design, manufacturer instructions and fire risk assessment. Routine user testing and competent person servicing should be recorded and faults should be dealt with promptly.
Yes. A well designed access control and visitor entry system can help ensure visitors report to reception, restrict entry to agreed areas and manage staff or pupil permissions while supporting the school's safeguarding procedures.
The Act is not yet in force. When commenced, qualifying childcare, primary, secondary and further education premises with 200 or more people reasonably expected at the same time will be standard tier, even where the expected number reaches 800 or more.
Yes, where the scope allows it. Work can be phased around lessons, exams, after school activity and agreed restricted periods, with larger or more disruptive work planned for suitable closures where needed.
Yes, where the equipment is supported and suitable. We can inspect the existing fire and security systems, records and current condition before recommending maintenance, remedial work, a phased upgrade or replacement.
Often, yes, depending on the equipment, network, protocols and site design. A survey can establish what can be integrated, what should remain separate and where a phased upgrade would be more practical.
Tell us what your school needs.
Use the form for a new fire alarm, access control, CCTV, intruder protection, maintenance, a fire risk assessment or a review of existing systems.