Design Guide for Improving School Safety

Course Summary:

Every building is unique and there is great variety in school design; however, the purpose of schools, their occupancy, their economic basis, and their role in the social scene mean that there are certain common features of schools that distinguish them from other building types. A summary of the national public school inventory is presented (i.e., how many students it houses and how many schools it contains) and projections of future needs are also outlined. School design of the past is discussed, because many older schools are still in use and must be renovated periodically to meet today’s needs. The present state of school design is also discussed and some trends and ideas that might influence future schools are identified.

Learning Objective:

• An overview of the school design and construction process designing for performance
• Multi hazard design
• Making school safe against earthquakes
• Making schools safe against floods
• Making schools safe against winds

Review the quiz before studying the course.

Course Content

Course Author: Federal Emergency Management Agency