New research analyses cost and impact of fires in schools

A new report from the National Fire Sprinkler Network (NFSN) has revealed that fires in school premises are costing more than £126 million a year, with sprinkler systems shown to be highly effective in reducing their impact

Detailing the financial impact of fires in schools and the widespread disruption caused to children’s education, the independent analysis of school fires in England was carried out by Optimal Economics and commissioned by NFSN.

Based on data collected between 2010/11 and 2023/24, the research revealed an average of 350 school fires per annum or six to seven per week, indicating that such incidents were a “relatively frequent occurrence”. There were 6,276 school fires during the 14-year period, resulting in, on average, damage amounting to the loss of one classroom.

Sprinkler systems, when installed, were shown to be effective in reducing the impact of school fires. More than 97% (6,122) of the fires that occurred in the last 14 years were in buildings where no safety system was present. Of the remaining 154 fires, 119 had sprinkler systems, and 35 had other systems:

“Although sprinklers were installed in 119 schools which experienced a fire, they only operated in 57 cases. In 55 (96%) of these cases, the sprinklers either extinguished or contained/controlled the fire.”

The report stated: “Where sprinklers were installed and they operated, they extinguished the fire in 71% of incidents and contained/controlled the fire in a further 27% of incidents, which is an overall effectiveness rate of 98%.”

The study also analysed the time at which the fire incident occurred, with data showing that the total damage caused was “substantially higher” during the evening and at night.

“Evening fires typically incur average areas of fire damage which are more than twice the area of fires during the afternoon, with night fires incurring areas of fire damage which are approximately five to six times larger than afternoon fires,” the report found.  

In cases where a fire incident occurred, the majority of schools (more than 85% for both primary and secondary) had fire alarms installed. Researchers noted that this was an “important finding as government has suggested that fire alarms offer sufficient fire protection for schools”. However, it also highlighted the recent change in responses to automatic fire alarms by fire and rescue services during out-of-school hours.

The direct and consequential costs of school fires were also considered, including not only the physical damage caused in the event of a fire but also the impact on the continued provision of education. Combined, it was estimated that the financial impact of school fires was over £126 million per annum or £282,200 per school fire.

Researchers added that this was a “conservative estimate” and excluded the qualitative cost of fires, highlighting the wider effects of school fires, such as stress for pupils and staff, disruption to education, the loss of exam work or materials, and the well-being of vulnerable children.

In the report’s foreword, Secretary of NFSN, Terry McDermott, noted that there had been a recent decline in the number of newly built school premises being constructed with fire sprinklers, as developers “move away” from BB100 guidance and “side-step the provision of sprinklers on the grounds of perceived cost effectiveness”. 

He referred to research carried out by the Department for Education (DfE), which analysed the long-term impact of school fires on students. The DfE study found that “a single day out of school costs an estimated £750 in lost earnings across the course of a career for a typical student”.

McDermott noted: “When this loss is factored alongside the costs of school reconstruction, missing one day of secondary school education makes the installation of sprinklers cost-effective. Missing three days of primary school education has a similar outcome. 

“Given that the loss of a school to fire creates more disruption and absence than one to three days, the case for sprinklers in new schools would seem self-evident.” 

You can find the research commissioned by NFSN here.

As part of its 2025 Policy Manifesto, the FPA has also advocated the need for sprinkler systems to be installed in all new and majorly refurbished schools. Further details can be found here.