There is probably no school with enough exhibition space or storage rooms. Corridors, entrance halls or stairwells are often decorated or pupils' work is exhibited. If there is a fire here, dangerous situations can arise. Escape routes, which are usually corridors or staircases, are also often restricted by furniture, decorations or materials.

Would you like to decorate corridors, entrance halls or stairwells or display material there for educational reasons? Then please note the following information:

• In the case of stairwells , you must assume that they are part of the so-called necessary escape route. In principle, no flammable material may be placed in such stairwells. However, individual pictures or posters on the wall at a sufficient distance from each other will not pose any particular risk.
• Corridors are also always part of the structural escape routes. In principle, there must be no flammable material in the corridors. However, individual pictures or posters on the wall at a sufficient distance from each other will not pose a particular risk. Avoid large accumulations of flammable material at all costs. If you are displaying a small number of pictures or collages, for example, keep them well away from each other.
• Foyers and entrance halls are ideal for exhibitions due to their size, but are often also corridors or stairwells. It is then a particular challenge to keep them free of fire hazards during daily operations. If you are not sure whether and how such an area can be used, please contact the school authorities. They will work with you, the fire department, the building inspectorate and the municipal building management to find a solution in each individual case.
• Wardrobes with freely hanging clothing are tolerated in school corridors if they cannot be accommodated in any other way.
• Do not bring flammable materials together with sources of fire. The classic sources are Christmas candles on the Christmas tree or flammable decorations on hot spotlights. In schools, however, even "just" material placed in the hallway represents a considerable risk due to the danger of (even unintentional) arson.
• Larger installations and exhibits must not be flammable under any circumstances. If they are, they may only be set up in locations previously agreed in a fire protection concept or otherwise agreed with the fire department.
• The usable width of the escape routes of at least 1.25 meters in corridors and stairwells must not be restricted at any point. The minimum width is two meters if more than 180 people are dependent on the escape route. Please take this into account when furnishing.
• Emergency exit doors must be open at all times. In schools, this applies above all to the doors from the group rooms directly to the outside (garden). If you want to keep them locked for other reasons, this must be done with devices that can be opened at any time without a key (approved emergency exit lock). If in doubt, coordinate this with the owners and the fire department.

In the event of significant structural defects, it may be necessary to restrict the options listed above until the defects have been rectified. However, this will then be determined and announced for your school on a case-by-case basis.

All schools should carry out alarm rehearsals twice a year. The first alarm rehearsal should be carried out within eight weeks of the start of the school year and after a lesson on what to do in the event of a fire alarm with prior notice. The second alarm rehearsal should take place without prior notice.

As part of the alarm rehearsals, general measures for the prevention of fires and behavior in the event of a fire should also be discussed with the pupils. This applies both to fires at school and to fires in the private sphere.

(Circular issued by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Schools on May 19, 2000)

The following instructions also apply analogously to fires in private buildings. You can also use these instructions as a basis for your fire safety education.

If you are in the room where there is a fire:

• Take everyone outside immediately.
• Close the door to the room.
• If you pass other rooms on your way out, inform the people there.
• If there is a fire alarm system or an in-house alarm system, activate it.
• Call the fire department on 112.
• Outside, check that your group is complete.

If you are in the building and you notice a fire in another room:

• Only go outside if the entire way out is clear of smoke.
• If you have to cross a corridor and encounter smoke there, stay in your room and keep the room door closed.
• Call the fire department on your cell phone or, if this is not possible, call loudly for help at the window.
• Make yourself heard at the window and stay there.
• Wait for instructions from the fire department.

Fire holds a great fascination for children in particular. Few can resist the temptation to light a fire. However, children are not aware of the dangers of fire and are usually only taught about it in very general terms by adults.

Fire should not be forbidden to children. However, they must be taught about the dangers of fire and smoke, as well as how to handle fire correctly.

Support us in this. Teach your children what fire and smoke are all about. Explain to them the tasks and work of the fire department and the emergency number.

Are you planning a visit to a fire station? Then prepare and follow up on this in class. You can arrange an appointment with the respective fire station manager. You can find their contact details  here.

Would you like to talk to your students about the topic? Then please convey the following teaching objectives and content:

• Fire in buildings is always dangerous. A fire is quickly ignited and then spreads even faster.
• Fire smoke is life-threatening and has little in common with smoke from a barbecue or campfire.
• Fire smoke has an anaesthetic effect. It will not wake you up in your sleep. Every apartment and every house should have at least one smoke detector in every bedroom and in the hallway.
• Fire smoke rises because it is very hot. If the smoke is already in the house, it is best to only crawl on the floor, where the air is still at its best.
• If there is a fire, leave the house immediately and tell others (parents, siblings). Stay outside and do not re-enter the house. Dial the emergency number.
• The emergency number for fire and rescue services is 112, which is now standardized throughout Europe. We want to know what has happened and where. The children must be able to state their place of residence and know the emergency number. Only the staff at the fire department control center will end the call.

Many people in a room increase the risk of fire. Bear this in mind when planning events. If there are more than 200 people in a room, such an event is generally subject to special requirements. If in doubt, ask the owner, building inspectorate or fire department. Details can also be found in the Assembly Venue Ordinance of the state of NRW (for example on the website of the Ministry of Construction:  www.mhkbd.nrw) (opens in a new tab).

In a medical emergency, the emergency number 112 is also the first choice. Emergency doctors and ambulances are also part of the Bonn fire department and are alerted and managed via this control center.