One of the first things students learn in school is fire safety protocols: what to do when the fire alarm rings, how to prevent fires, visiting with the fire marshal, and more. By the time students work in laboratory instructional spaces, these protocols and responses are generally second nature. The problem is that most students have never been involved in a situation beyond a fire drill and evacuation. The laboratory instructional space probability of a fire incident is greater than in a general classroom, given the chemical safety hazards and resulting active flame and smoke risks.  

The purpose of this blog post is to provide a comprehensive laboratory instructional space fire safety guide for teachers and their supervisors or administrators. It will address components such as fire drills, equipment tips, and prevention strategies designed for school science/STEM laboratory instructional spaces and related areas. These important components include chemical storage and handling, electrical and heat sources, and more.

First, remember that the safest fire is the one that never starts. Teachers and supervisors should implement preventive measures that minimize ignition sources and combustible risks. These preventive measures include chemical storage and handling, electrical and heat sources, and housekeeping.

A.     Chemical Storage and Handling
1.    Store flammables (ethanol, acetone, isopropanol, etc.) in approved and labelled flammable storage cabinets.
2.    Limit the amount of flammable solvents in active use.
3.    Label all containers clearly, following the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) HazCom Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).
4.    Separate incompatibles (e.g., acids away from bases, oxidizers away from organics).
5.    Provide an up-to-date chemical inventory to the local fire chief and fire marshal to help firefighters respond as soon as they know the chemical hazards and risks relative to the inventory. They need to be able to enter the lab safely during an emergency.

B.    Electrical and Heat Sources
1.    Regularly inspect cords, plugs, and outlets for damage and correct them.
2.    Avoid overloading circuits.
3.    Keep heat sources (Bunsen burners, hot plates) away from combustible materials.
4.    Require automatic shutoffs for unattended heating equipment when possible.

C.     Housekeeping
1.    Keep student lab benches and teacher demonstration desks clear of clutter and combustibles (tissues, cardboard, solvents).
2.    Dispose of oily or solvent-soaked rags in self-closing metal cans. Remember that these metal cans containing flammables must be placed outside of the building by the end of each day.
3.    Maintain clear access to aisles, exits, and fire equipment.

A.    Fire Extinguishers
1.    Provide Class ABC extinguishers for general hazards.
2.    Place Class D extinguishers in labs using combustible metals (e.g., sodium, magnesium).
3.    Mount extinguishers along exit routes and label them clearly.
4.    Inspect monthly and service annually (per OSHA and National Fire Prevention Association [NFPA] 10).

B.    Fire Blankets
1.    Install near exits to smother clothing fires.
2.    Train staff in safer use (never wrap a standing person—lay them down first).

C.    Safety Showers and Eyewash Stations
1.    Ensure showers are accessible within 10 seconds travel time (American National Standards Institute [ANSI] Z358.1).
2.    Keep pathways clear at all times.

D.    Fire Alarms and Suppression Systems
1.    Test alarms and sprinklers regularly.
2.    Do not store any items within 18 inches from the ceiling if the lab has installed fire sprinklers.
3.    For labs with high-value equipment, consider clean agent systems (FM-200, Inergen) that won’t damage electronics.
4.    Store all computer electronic data on a cloud-based system to prevent destruction of any and all critical documents in case computers are destroyed during the fire.

E.    Fire Doors
1.    Make sure lab instruction spaces have fire doors.
2.    Fire doors are built of fire-resistant materials and automatically close during a fire to contain the fire and smoke. 
3.    Keep fire doors clear. If you have automatic fire doors, they are held open with a magnet that releases when the fire alarm in your building is activated. If you have manual fire doors, these doors will need to be closed manually during a fire. Ensure all lab members understand the proper functioning of the fire doors in your area.

A.    Planning Drills
1.    Conduct at least one fire drill per semester/quarter for academic labs, and semi-annually in research facilities. Check with the local fire marshal for specific state drill requirements.
2.    Rotate scenarios (chemical fire, electrical fire, clothing fire).
3.    Involve all staff, including custodial and support teams.

B.     Drill Steps
1.    Written Plan. Have a written laboratory instructional space fire protocol safety plan.
2.    Alarm Activation. Ensure staff know how to trigger alarms.
3.    Evacuation. Everyone exits calmly, leaving experiments safe (turn off flames, close fume hood sashes, if possible).
4.    Accountability. Assemble at designated muster points; teachers verify the headcount.
5.    Re-entry. Do not re-enter the building until cleared by firefighters to do so during an actual fire or the chief building administrator during a drill.
6.    Assessing Damage. Upon returning to the lab, assess the damage, and file a report to the chief building administrator for potential insurance claims.
7.    Debrief. Review response time, equipment access, and communication effectiveness.

1.    Train all personnel annually.
2.    Fire extinguisher PASS method (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep).
3.    Stop, Drop, and Roll procedure for fire blanket use.
4.    Location and use of fire equipment.
5.    Designate Fire Wardens in each lab cluster to help direct evacuations.
6.    Post emergency contacts and evacuation maps at entrances.

1. Maintain a written Fire Safety Plan that includes roles, hazards, and emergency contacts.
2. Keep inspection logs for fire extinguishers, hoods, alarms, and suppression systems.
3. Review and update the plan after any incident, near-miss, or lab renovation.

1. Flammables stored properly;
2. Exits and equipment unblocked;
3. Fire extinguishers inspected;
4. Staff trained in fire response; and
5. Drills conducted on schedule.

Remember that the teacher and science/STEM supervisor set the tone for safety. A strong prevention culture, reinforced with regular drills and well-maintained equipment, is the most effective way to protect your science/STEM laboratory instructional spaces and related areas from fire hazards.

Submit questions regarding health and safety issues in science/STEM instructional spaces to Ken Roy at safersci@gmail.com. Follow Ken Roy on X: @drroysafersci