Fire risk from school maintenance or building works
Supporting schools to manage fire risks when undertaking construction or maintenance activities involving hot works such as roof repairs
Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) closed on 31 March 2025. All activity has moved to the Department for Education (DfE). You should continue to follow this guidance.
Any construction activity involving hot works has the potential to cause a serious fire, therefore they should only be undertaken when all other options have been considered first.
Fire can be a particular hazard in refurbishment and maintenance work when there is a lot of dry timber or other flammable materials present.
This document is a signposting document that raises awareness of a school and contractor鈥檚 legal health and safety duties as they apply to the fire risks created by the contractor鈥檚 hot work activities.
The document includes links to helpful advice from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). HSE is the Regulatory Enforcing Authority.