EIF-P0 - Fire Drills, Alarm Systems Tests and Lockdown Drills

FIRE DRILLS

In the interest of safety, fire drills will be held as prescribed by the Manitoba Fire Code and requirements of the Office of the Fire Commissioner in each school throughout the School Division. A record of fire drills will be kept by the School Principal.

Principals are responsible for holding fire drills and may make such rules as are necessary to ensure the rapid and orderly evacuation of the school.   

Supplementary instructions for each school must be defined in each Emergency Response Plan and must include the role and responsibilities of the:

• Principal 

• Teachers 

• Educational Assistants 

• Specialists  

• Administration Clerical Support Staff  

• Custodian/Maintenance Staff  

• Visitors/Volunteers   

The Principal shall, at the beginning of the school term, make provision for some other member of his (or her) staff to control a fire drill in case of his (or her) absence and to assume all other duties of the Principal in case of a fire. Such person in a school should be familiar with the general regulations regarding fire and the supplementary regulations for the school in which he (or she) is acting.  

In schools where students or teachers remain during the noon recess, the Principal must make provision for appropriate procedure in case of a fire or fire alarm.   

Special attention should be given to new students, to students with special needs and to students enrolled in visiting classes.   

Principals should develop a contingency plan in the event that an alarm sends students outside in very cold or adverse weather. There must be no stopping for coats, but Principals must have a plan for sending students to safety after attendance is checked (i.e., alternate evacuation site [as per Emergency Response Plan]).

Fire Evacuation Maps must be posted near the exit door of each classroom; they must be highly visible and readily accessible.  

Fire Drills shall be held at least ten times in each school year and, where practicable in the opinion of the Principal, at least once in each month. 

• Under the direction of the Principal, the custodian (or other designated staff) shall notify the alarm service of the following:  

  •     the school is going to have a fire drill  

  •     the school will call back to confirm proper operation of all systems.  

• Drills should always come unexpectedly.  

• No person may be excused from taking part in fire drills (this applies to custodians, cleaners and workmen as well to pupils and teachers).  

• A different Fire Alarm pull station shall be used each time for fire drills: 

  •  in the event that a Fire Exit Door is blocked and or not accessible during a drill and or fire alarm an alternate fire route must be identified.  

  •  fire drills with a prearranged “blocked” fire exit door should be conducted randomly to ensure alternate fire route doors have been identified.    

• Fire Drills are to be recorded on the “Fire Prevention Monthly Log” (Exhibit EIF-E1) and filed in the Emergency Response Plan in school, available for inspection.    

Fire Extinguishers:  

All members of the teaching staff and custodial staff must be familiar with the exact location of fire alarm stations and fire extinguishers.  

Fire extinguishers are to be inspected monthly by the Head Custodian; each tag is to be dated and the initials of the person inspecting placed on the fire extinguisher tag.

The “Fire Extinguisher Monthly Log” (Exhibit EIF-E1) is to be completed and filed in the Emergency Response Plans in each school, available for inspection.  

Fire Prevention:  

Rules governing Fire Prevention and Safety in Public Schools are to be observed by all members of the School Staff:   

Exits and Passageways:  

1. All stairways, landings and passageways must be kept free of anything that would block or narrow the exits. 

2. All doorways of classrooms must be kept entirely clear. There must be a clear space at each door and all desks that interfere with free and rapid movement must be removed.  

3. The use of fire door wedges is not permitted on any fire exit door; if required, doors shall be held open by magnetic devices that release if the fire alarm is activated. 

4.  Fire exit doors must be kept clear of ice, snow and other obstructions.  

Auditoriums, Gymnasiums and General Purpose Rooms:   

1. In schools where lectures or other entertainments are provided for the general public, the exit door must not be blocked at any time while the audience is within the building.  

2. Movable chairs must not be used to increase the seating capacity of auditoriums beyond that approved by the Fire Department.  

3. All scenery, drapes, decorations and other materials used in places of assembly shall be maintained in flame-proof condition (in accordance with provincial fire codes).   

Storage and General Housekeeping:  

1. Doors of shops, science rooms and any other rooms containing supplies of equipment likely to present a hazard, must be locked when these rooms are not in use. Students must not be permitted access to such rooms unless Adult Supervision is available.  

2. Crawl spaces must not be used for the storage of furniture, books, lumber and or any combustible material and liquids.  

3. Boiler Rooms must be kept free of all combustible material and liquids at all times. A clear passageway to all electrical/mechanical equipment must be maintained at all times.  

4. Excess storage of material stacked on top of shelving units is not permitted. There must be a 14” clearance to ceiling; an 18” clearance is required if near a sprinkler head.  

5. Combustible waste materials in buildings shall not be permitted to accumulate in quantities or locations that will constitute an undue fire hazard.

6. Waste receptacles shall be made of noncombustible materials. 

7. Exterior waste receptacles must be kept as far as reasonably practicable from all buildings.  

8. Extension cords must not be used as permanent wiring.  

Flammable & Combustible Materials:   

1. Combustible material such as art work and teaching materials, which are attached to the walls, shall not exceed 20% of the areas of such walls.

2. Paper in corridors may not exceed 5% of the wall surface and all corners must be attached to a bulletin board (or tack board). This does not permit mobiles or other decorations that cannot be attached at all corners.  

3. Classroom doors must not be covered with decorative flammable or combustible material.  

4. Paper must be kept at least 10 feet away from all exterior entrance and exit doors. 

5. Combustible material must not be stored under or near gas meters, electrical meters or any other electrical apparatus.  

6. All flammable liquids must be kept in approved fire-proof metal containers. 

7. Matches must not be stored in schools. In science rooms where it is necessary to ignite gases it is advisable to use friction lighters instead of matches.  

8. Gas mains to laboratories must be shut off when not in use.  

9. All members of the custodial staff must be familiar with the procedure to be followed when it is necessary to turn off gas valves outside the building.  

10. Gasoline must be kept in a U.L.C. approved metal safety can with a spring loaded cap to take care of expansion. Plastic storage cans are not acceptable for gasoline storage or transfer in a school. Plastic storage containers are designed for temporary outdoor storage.  

11. Portable heaters must not be used in a school unless approved by the Maintenance Supervisor.  

12. Fire inspections are to be conducted every three years in all schools, by the local Fire Chief. Schools with day care facilities will be inspected yearly.    

Holiday Decorations:   

1. Christmas Trees must be artificial C.S.A. approved (combustible trees are not permitted).  

2. All Christmas or other festive lights must be LED C.S.A. approved lights.

3. Festive lights must not be left on outside of school hours; Teachers are responsible for any lights used in their classrooms.  

4. Decorations must not be placed near or on top of heating units or attached to light fixtures and or ceilings. 

5. Hanging decorations must provide a minimum six foot height clearance to prevent eye injury.  

6. Extension cords are not to be used as permanent wiring.   

[E10-468R, Section 36, Manitoba Fire Code]

ALARM SYSTEMS TESTS

The Manitoba Fire Code specifies that Alarm Systems Tests must be performed monthly and records kept.  The process for same is as follows:

1. Contact the alarm monitoring company and advise them that a test will be conducted.

2. Switch Fire Control Annunciator to Battery Back-up mode.

3. Activate a pull station and record which one.  A different station is to be used each time.

4. Confirm that the audible alarms are functioning at all locations as evacuation procedure occurs.

5. Record data and sign. (Exhibit EIF-E1)

6. Retain for the Fire Commissioner’s review.

LOCKDOWN DRILL TESTS

To reinforce the importance that school emergency preparedness planning remain current at all times, schools should be prepared against a threat through regularly practicing school building evacuations and lockdowns. Lockdowns will be held as prescribed by law in each school throughout the School Division and a record of lockdowns will be kept by the School Principal.

“A Principal must ensure that at least one school lockdown drill is held in the school during each term or semester of the school year.”  [M.R. 151/2013-8(1)]

“During a school lockdown, pupils, school staff and other persons who are authorized to be in the school or to be participating in a school activity,

1. If inside the school, must

   1. Proceed to and remain in secured rooms in the school, and

   2. Comply with any procedures and directions established by the principal to ensure that they remain safe; and

2. If outside the school, must proceed to the evacuation staging area away from the school, as designated by the Principal and await further instructions from the Principal or emergency response personal.  [M.R. 151/2013-8(2)]

3. “In this section, a school lockdown means to restrict the movement of pupils and school staff and other persons authorized to be in the school or to be participating in school events due to a threat of violence within or in relation to the school.”  [M.R. 151/2013-8(3)]

4. “A school lockdown that is not a drill must be reported as soon as reasonably practical by the Principal to the superintendent and by the superintendent to the department.”  M.R. 151/2013-8(4)]

All schools must adhere to the following processes:

1. Duration of a drill should be a minimum of 10 minutes.

2. The drill time should include at least one regular and one end of class bell.

3. Record data and submit using form Exhibit EIF-E1.