DC Fire & Security logoDC Fire & Security
    Education Specialists

    School Fire Compliance — multi-building assessments, fire doors, alarm servicing & Ofsted-ready documentation

    We help schools across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and North London meet their fire safety obligations with PAS 79:2020 risk assessments, fire door inspections, BS 5839 alarm servicing, and complete compliance documentation. We work with schools including Queen Elizabeth School and Challney Girls Academy in Luton, delivering multi-building compliance programmes that keep you ahead of Ofsted, local authority, and fire service inspections.

    SSAIB Certified
    Fast Response Times
    15+ Years Experience
    500+ Commercial Clients

    Who is this for?

    For school business managers, headteachers, site managers, and multi-academy trust estates teams who need to ensure every building on every site is fully compliant with fire safety regulations — and who need the documentation to prove it.

    • Primary and secondary schools across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and London
    • Multi-academy trusts (MATs) managing fire compliance across multiple school sites
    • Independent and private schools with older or listed buildings
    • Nurseries and early years settings with specific fire safety requirements
    • Further education colleges and sixth form centres
    • Special educational needs (SEN) schools with complex evacuation requirements

    Common fire compliance challenges in schools

    • Fire risk assessments are overdue, were not carried out to PAS 79:2020, or have not been reviewed since significant building modifications were made
    • Fire doors across multiple buildings are damaged, propped open, missing intumescent seals, or have closers that do not latch — and there is no documented inspection record
    • Fire alarm systems are ageing, have outstanding faults, or have not been serviced quarterly in accordance with BS 5839-1
    • Ofsted or local authority inspectors have asked for fire safety documentation and you cannot produce a complete, current set of records
    • Budget constraints make it difficult to manage fire safety across multiple buildings — you need a clear, prioritised plan rather than a long wish list

    Our school fire compliance services

    PAS 79:2020 Fire Risk Assessments

    Full fire risk assessments for every school building, carried out by a competent assessor with photographic evidence and prioritised action plans. Multi-building sites are assessed building by building with a consolidated summary report.

    Fire Door Inspections & Condition Grading

    Door-by-door inspection with calibrated gap measurement, ironmongery assessment, and condition grading. Every door photographed and graded: Compliant, Minor Defects, Major Defects, or Replace.

    Fire Door Remedial Works

    On-site repairs including Lorient intumescent seal replacement, Dorma closer fitting, hinge replacement, gap remediation, and signage — carried out during the inspection visit where possible.

    BS 5839-1 Fire Alarm Servicing

    Quarterly and annual fire alarm servicing and testing to BS 5839-1:2017, with full zone testing, detector sensitivity checks, battery condition reports, and BS 5839 service certificates.

    Emergency Lighting Testing

    Monthly flick tests, 6-monthly brief duration tests, and annual 3-hour full duration tests in accordance with BS 5266-1, with documented results for your compliance file.

    Ofsted-Ready Compliance Pack

    All certificates, reports, and action plans compiled into a single compliance documentation pack — organised by building and by service — ready to present to Ofsted, local authority, fire service, or insurer at any time.

    Scope of works

    Our qualified engineers carry out the following as standard:

    Review of all existing fire risk assessments, alarm certificates, and door inspection records
    PAS 79:2020 fire risk assessment of every school building on site
    Door-by-door fire door inspection with calibrated gap measurement and condition grading
    BS 5839-1 fire alarm system inspection, testing, and certification
    BS 5266-1 emergency lighting inspection and testing
    Identification of non-compliant signage, escape routes, and fire safety management issues
    Photographic documentation of all hazards and defects across every building
    Prioritised remedial action plan with estimated costs for budget planning
    On-site fire door remedial works: seals, closers, hinges, gaps, signage
    Compilation of Ofsted-ready compliance documentation pack

    Need school fire compliance support? Get a free assessment.

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    Optional services

    Monthly Compliance Package

    All inspections, servicing, and documentation managed under a single monthly payment — predictable costs and zero missed deadlines.

    CCTV for School Security

    HD and 4K CCTV installation for entrances, car parks, playgrounds, and perimeters with remote viewing for headteachers and site managers.

    Intruder Alarm Systems

    Monitored intruder alarm installation to protect school buildings outside hours, with keyholder notification and police response options.

    Access Control & Door Entry

    Door entry systems, fob access, and visitor management to control who enters the school site and individual buildings.

    Staff Fire Safety Training

    Fire awareness and evacuation training for teaching and support staff, tailored to your school layout, procedures, and PEEPs for staff and pupils with disabilities.

    Fire Extinguisher Servicing

    Annual inspection and servicing of all portable fire extinguishers to BS 5306-3, with replacement of expired units.

    Typical project timeframes

    Fire risk assessment (single building)1 day
    Fire door inspection (up to 80 doors)1–2 days
    Fire alarm servicing (single system)Half day
    Full compliance review (multi-building school)3–5 days
    Fire door remedial programme (typical school)1–3 days

    Key benefits

    Single provider managing all fire safety compliance across every building on site
    PAS 79:2020 fire risk assessments by competent assessors — not template tick-box reports
    Ofsted-ready documentation pack always current and available at short notice
    Prioritised action plans that work within school budgets — urgent safety items first, advisory improvements scheduled for future budget cycles
    All works carried out by qualified fire door engineers and alarm technicians
    Ongoing compliance support through managed monthly packages
    Trusted by schools including Queen Elizabeth School and Challney Girls Academy in Luton
    Flexible scheduling around term times, holidays, and INSET days
    Multi-academy trusts receive consistent reporting across all sites with a consolidated overview

    Ongoing support & maintenance

    Term-Time Scheduling

    Quarterly and annual servicing scheduled around term dates, half terms, and INSET days to minimise disruption to teaching.

    Compliance Tracking & Reminders

    We track every inspection date, certificate expiry, and servicing deadline — alerting your business manager before anything lapses.

    Emergency Attendance

    Priority call-out for urgent fire safety issues — we aim to attend within 24 hours for compliance package schools.

    Documentation Always Current

    Your compliance pack is updated after every visit so it is always ready for an unannounced Ofsted or fire service inspection.

    How it works

    01

    Initial Review

    We review your current fire safety records — risk assessments, alarm certificates, door inspection reports, emergency lighting records — and identify what is missing, expired, or due for renewal.

    02

    Multi-Building Site Survey

    A competent assessor inspects every building on your school site — main school, annexes, temporary classrooms, sports halls, kitchens, and plant rooms.

    03

    Reports & Action Plan

    You receive PAS 79:2020 fire risk assessment reports, door-by-door condition reports, and a consolidated prioritised action plan with estimated costs for budget planning.

    04

    Remedial Works

    Our engineers carry out fire door repairs, alarm fault rectification, signage installation, and other remedial works — prioritised by risk level and scheduled around your school calendar.

    05

    Ongoing Compliance

    We schedule quarterly alarm servicing, annual door re-inspections, emergency lighting tests, and risk assessment reviews — keeping your compliance pack current year-round.

    Case study
    Case Study

    Multi-building fire compliance programme: risk assessment, 64 fire doors, and alarm servicing

    Queen Elizabeth School — Luton

    Scale3 buildings, 64 fire doors, 2 fire alarm systems
    Duration4 days (assessment + door programme)
    OutcomePAS 79:2020 fire risk assessments for 3 buildings
    Challenge: The school had not carried out a formal fire door inspection in over 3 years and the existing fire risk assessment predated significant building modifications. With an Ofsted safeguarding review approaching, the school needed to demonstrate full fire safety compliance across 3 buildings.
    Solution: We carried out a PAS 79:2020 fire risk assessment for each building, inspected all 64 fire doors with calibrated gap measurements and condition grading, identified 18 doors with failed intumescent strips, damaged seals, or incorrect signage, and completed all remedial works on-site within a 2-day programme scheduled during half term.
    PAS 79:2020 fire risk assessments for 3 buildings
    64 fire doors inspected with photographic condition reports
    18 fire door defects identified and repaired on-site
    Complete Ofsted-ready compliance pack issued
    Ongoing quarterly alarm servicing contract established

    Project gallery

    Challney Girls School fire inspection

    Fire risk & door inspection, Challney Girls

    Professional equipment we use

    Industry-leading products from trusted manufacturers

    Advanced MxPro 5

    Addressable fire alarm panel with touchscreen interface and network capability

    Apollo Discovery Detectors

    Multi-sensor fire detectors with high sensitivity and low false alarm rates

    Hochiki Detectors

    Commercial-grade optical smoke and heat detectors for industrial environments

    Gap Measurement Tools

    Precision gap gauges for measuring fire door clearances to specification

    Digital Reporting System

    Tablet-based inspection software with photographic evidence capture

    Intumescent Seal Testers

    Tools for checking seal condition and fitment quality

    Frequently asked questions

    How often should a school have a fire risk assessment?
    The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to keep the fire risk assessment under regular review. For schools, the accepted standard is an annual review as a minimum, with an immediate review triggered by any significant building change, change of use, fire incident, or near miss. Most local authorities and Ofsted inspectors expect to see a current assessment dated within the last 12 months.
    What happens if fire doors fail inspection?
    We provide a detailed condition report for each door, listing every defect and grading the door as Compliant, Minor Defects, Major Defects, or Replace. Most common issues — damaged seals, worn closers, excessive gaps, missing signage — can be repaired on-site by our engineers during the inspection visit or a follow-up appointment. Doors graded as Replace are quoted separately for new certified FD30 doorset installation.
    Can you work around term times and school hours?
    Yes, and we do this as standard. We schedule inspections and remedial works during half terms, Easter and summer holidays, INSET days, or after school hours. For fire alarm servicing that requires zone testing with sounders, we coordinate with your site manager to minimise disruption to lessons.
    Do you work with multi-academy trusts?
    Yes. We work with several MATs across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, providing consistent fire compliance management across multiple school sites. MATs receive standardised reporting across all sites with a consolidated trust-level overview, making it straightforward for estates managers to track compliance and allocate budgets.
    What documentation will we have for Ofsted?
    You will receive a complete compliance pack containing: PAS 79:2020 fire risk assessment reports with photographic evidence, fire door condition reports with gap measurements and condition grades, BS 5839-1 fire alarm service certificates, BS 5266-1 emergency lighting test records, remedial works completion certificates, and an ongoing compliance schedule. This is organised by building and by service type, ready to present at short notice.
    Can you provide ongoing compliance management rather than one-off visits?
    Yes. Our monthly compliance packages include all scheduled inspections, quarterly alarm servicing, annual door re-inspections, emergency lighting testing, and documentation management — for a predictable monthly cost. Your compliance pack is updated after every visit, and we proactively schedule every inspection before its deadline. This is how most of our school clients choose to work with us.
    Which schools have you worked with?
    We have carried out fire compliance programmes for schools across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, including Queen Elizabeth School and Challney Girls Academy in Luton. We work with both individual schools and multi-academy trusts, covering primary, secondary, SEN, and independent schools.
    What does a school fire compliance programme typically cost?
    Costs depend on the number of buildings, the number of fire doors, the alarm system size, and whether you need a one-off compliance programme or ongoing monthly management. We provide a clear, itemised quotation after an initial review of your current compliance status — there is no obligation and no call centre. Contact us and we will give you a straight answer.
    No Obligation

    Request a Free Site Survey

    One of our qualified engineers will visit your site, assess your requirements, and provide a detailed quotation - completely free.

    Book a free site survey

    Pick the service you need - we tailor the questions, then come back to you within 24 hours.

    No spam. We'll only use these details to respond to your enquiry.

    24-hour response
    SSAIB certified
    500+ commercial clients

    What happens after you contact us

    1

    We review your enquiry

    A member of our team reviews your requirements and gets back to you within 24 hours.

    2

    We arrange a site survey

    We schedule a convenient time to visit your site and assess your needs in person.

    3

    We prepare a quotation

    You receive a clear, detailed quote with no hidden costs or obligations.

    4

    We schedule the work

    Once approved, we agree a start date that works around your operations.

    5

    We provide documentation & support

    On completion, you receive all certificates, reports, and ongoing support details.

    Commercial Clients

    Trusted by schools, care homes, warehouses, and construction sites

    We work with commercial and public sector clients across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and London.

    Schools & Academies

    Primary schools, secondary schools, multi-academy trusts, and nurseries

    Construction Sites

    Active building sites, developments, and temporary site compounds

    Warehouses & Industrial

    Warehouses, distribution centres, factories, and industrial units

    Care Homes & Healthcare

    Care homes, nursing facilities, clinics, and GP surgeries

    Car Garages & Workshops

    MOT centres, car dealerships, vehicle workshops, and body shops

    Commercial Offices

    Offices, business parks, co-working spaces, and corporate HQs

    Public Sector

    Local authority buildings, NHS facilities, and community centres

    Retail & Hospitality

    Shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels, and leisure venues

    Areas we cover

    LutonBedfordSt AlbansWatfordHitchinStevenageHertfordshireBedfordshireNorth London

    Get your school fire-safety compliant

    Request a free compliance review. We will assess your fire risk assessments, fire doors, alarm systems, and emergency lighting — and give you a clear, prioritised plan with realistic costs to meet your obligations.

    Request a free quote

    Free no-obligation quote · Professional engineers · Response within 24 hours

    No spam. We'll only use these details to respond to your enquiry.

    24-hour response
    SSAIB certified
    500+ commercial clients