FIA issues guidance on using fire alarm systems for lockdown in schools

In an evolving world of safety requirements, teams in charge of schools and other public buildings are increasingly looking at how existing infrastructure can support not only evacuation in the event of fire, but also lockdown and invacuation procedures in response to other threats.

For those working within the fire detection and alarms industry, evacuation is a familiar goal: moving people away from danger when a fire occurs. This may be managed through staged, phased or simultaneous evacuations depending on the building’s use, occupancy and available systems.

However, there are growing scenarios where remaining inside the building is the safer option. Known as invacuation, this scenario can be triggered by external hazards such as a chemical spill or pollution incident, a dangerous animal spotted nearby and a security threat involving a violent intruder or potential attack.

In schools, these risks have led to the development of lockdown procedures, whereby staff and pupils are required to stay put, close windows and doors and avoid movement until the threat has passed.

What is lockdown?

A full lockdown is the most stringent form of invacuation. It restricts movement throughout a site, as well as access to and from the premises, in order to prevent potential attackers from entering or moving freely within the building.

Unlike fire evacuations, which rely on clearly recognisable alarms and visual indicators, lockdown alerts are usually short, discreet and carefully controlled to avoid triggering panic.

Traditionally, these two safety functions (ie evacuation and invacuation) have been delivered through entirely separate systems. However, the industry is now witnessing a growing interest in using a single fire detection and alarm system to deliver both functions.

Why consider fire detection and alarm systems for lockdown? In terms of cost efficiencies, one system can be more economical than installing two. Further, fire detection and alarm systems are typically built to high standards, ensuring minimal downtime and fault tolerance.

With widespread coverage across a given site, fire detection and alarm systems already provide an effective means of reaching all building users very quickly.

British Standard

BS 5839-1:2025 provides useful insight on this growing trend. Clause 5a notes: ‘If a building contains alarm systems associated with hazards other than fire, the various hazard alarms need to be properly co-ordinated and be distinct from each other.’

In simple terms, if your fire alarm system is also being used to signal other emergencies, each alert must be clearly distinguishable and the system must be designed such that one type of alarm doesn’t override or obscure another, particularly so where the priority of threats may differ.

Although fire is usually given the highest priority, certain invacuation scenarios (and particularly in schools) could warrant a different risk hierarchy. This needs to be agreed and planned for by the premises management team.

Elements to consider

The use of a fire alarm system for lockdown alerts must be approached thoughtfully. For differentiation, lockdown tones must be clearly distinct from fire alarms to avoid confusion.

Each school or building must assess whether invacuation might, in some cases, take priority over evacuation. Clear and agreed protocols should be in place for situations where both types of alarm may be triggered simultaneously.

Importantly, school leadership, local authorities, the Emergency Services and system installers must collaborate to ensure safety and compliance.

*Copes of the FIA Guidance Note entitled ‘Use of Fire Alarm Systems for Lockdown (Specifically in Schools)’ are available online

Rebuild programme in Scotland

The Scottish Government has said that a number of schools found to have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) will be replaced through a £2 billion learning estate investment programme.

When this school rebuilding programme goes ahead, it will subsequently trigger current Scottish sprinkler legislation, which requires all new build schools to have fire sprinkler systems installed.

According to Scottish Government officials, a total of 40 schools were initially found to have RAAC, a number which has now been reduced to 29.

The UK Government changed its position on the risk of RAAC in schools in August 2023 and published new guidance advising schools and colleges to vacate areas that are known to contain RAAC until suitable mitigations are in place with the aim of removing it from all school buildings across England. However automatic fire sprinklers are not mandatory in England as they are in Scotland and Wales.

Ali Perry, CEO of the British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Association, feels the building programme in Scotland is good news for the sprinkler industry and even better news for improved fire safety in Scotland.

“I’m delighted that this investment by the Scottish Government will see a number of schools affected by RAAC replaced with new schools that will be protected by sprinklers,” stated Perry. “This will help to protect more of Scotland’s educational infrastructure, and those who use it, from the devastating consequences of fire.”