46 fire doors to be replaced at James Watt Primary in Handsworth

Dozens of fire doors at a primary school in Handsworth are to be replaced after an inspection found they did not meet safety regulations.

Birmingham City Council is putting about £130,000 towards the work at James Watt Primary School, and the school itself is contributing about £50,000.

What will be done

The work includes:

• replacing 46 fire doors and their frames
• repairs to a further 18 fire doors and frames

It was due to start this month and is expected to take about seven weeks.

"Necessary to ensure the building meets current standards"

A council report said: "These works are necessary to ensure the building meets current fire safety standards."

Patching up the doors and carrying out repairs as problems arose was ruled out, because that would not comply with fire regulations.

"The option to do nothing was discounted as it would leave essential fire door works that are required to bring the school to the latest standards," the report said. "It would not meet the council's statutory duty to maintain safe and suitable school buildings and would not comply with fire regulations."

"This decision supports the council's corporate plan by ensuring school buildings are safe, compliant and fit for purpose, enabling children to access high-quality learning environments."

How it is paid for

The council's share will come from the Department for Education's school condition allocation, a grant councils receive to maintain the schools they are responsible for. That means no money will come from the council's general budget, which remains under severe pressure.

Why fire doors matter

Fire doors are designed to hold back fire and smoke for a set time, usually at least 30 minutes, giving people time to get out and firefighters time to arrive. To work properly they must close fully by themselves, fit their frames closely, and have the right seals, hinges and glass. Doors that are damaged, wedged open or badly fitted can let fire spread much faster.

Schools are large buildings full of young children, which is why fire safety rules for them are strict. Since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, there has been much closer attention to fire doors in all kinds of buildings, and regular checks are now a legal requirement in blocks of flats.

A wider problem

Many schools in England were built decades ago and need significant repairs. The National Audit Office has warned that a large number of school buildings are in poor condition, and councils and academy trusts have to prioritise the most urgent safety work from limited budgets.

James Watt Primary is named after the engineer who went into partnership with Matthew Boulton, whose Soho Manufactory stood in Handsworth, to build and sell his improved steam engines.