A Covered Outdoor Learning Area- a COLA- is designed to give students a sheltered space for assemblies, outdoor classes, and break activities. What it also provides, from a pigeon’s perspective, is an elevated, sheltered, largely undisturbed space to nest. Directly above the students.
We’ve assessed COLAs across Sydney— from primary schools in Parramatta to secondary schools on the North Shore- where pigeon infestations in the rafter space had progressed to the point of visible droppings on assembly benches, accumulated nesting material blocking drainage, and bird mites appearing in adjacent classrooms. One school in the Hills District had been managing the problem with regular cleaning for two years before a parent complaint to the P&C triggered a proper assessment.
The good news is that COLA bird netting is a well-understood installation type with a clear and permanent outcome. The less straightforward part is navigating the procurement, technical, and compliance requirements specific to school settings. This guide covers what school facilities managers, principals, and P&C committees need to understand before they begin.
Why COLAs are such a consistent bird problem
The structural design of a COLA creates exactly the conditions birds favour. The roof structure is elevated, sheltered from direct weather, and typically open on the sides during the day. Steel or timber rafter systems running along the underside provide reliable perching and nesting platforms. The space directly above the ceiling- or the rafters themselves in open-rafter designs- is largely undisturbed.
The proximity to student activity, including food consumption, makes the surrounding area a consistent food source. Pigeons in particular are bold enough to remain in a rafter space even during student use of the area below, making the ‘just shoo them away’ approach ineffective over any meaningful period.
Once a breeding pair establishes in a COLA rafter, the population compounds. Pigeons can produce multiple clutches per year. Within two to three breeding seasons, a COLA that had one pair has a small colony. Each additional bird adds to the dropping accumulation, the noise level, and the health risk to students and staff below.
The fire retardant requirement: the critical technical detail
This is the detail that most general pest companies and netting suppliers either don’t know or don’t mention: bird netting installed in a school setting in NSW must meet fire retardant requirements.
Standard commercial bird netting is not fire rated. In an enclosed or semi-enclosed structure like a COLA, standard netting presents an unacceptable fire risk if ignited. Schools are required under NSW Building Code and fire safety regulations to use fire retardant materials in covered assembly and learning spaces.
Fire retardant bird netting is available- it’s the product that should be specified for any school COLA installation- but it costs more than standard netting and not all suppliers stock it. If you’re getting quotes for COLA bird netting and the supplier hasn’t mentioned fire retardant specification, ask directly whether the product they’re proposing meets fire retardant requirements.
A 40m × 15m COLA installation- a common size for a primary school assembly area- is a significant structure. Installing non-compliant netting creates both a fire safety risk and a compliance liability for the school. This is not a detail to overlook in the interest of a lower quote.
The procurement process for NSW schools
Government schools in NSW procure goods and services through the NSW Department of Education’s supplier framework. For maintenance and facilities work, this typically involves obtaining quotes from approved suppliers or going to open tender for larger projects. The specific procurement pathway depends on the estimated contract value.
Independent and Catholic schools typically have more flexibility in their procurement processes, but still operate under internal governance requirements for capital works and significant maintenance expenditure.
For the typical COLA bird netting installation, the practical procurement steps are:
- Site assessment and written scoping document (what we provide at no cost)
- Quote documentation suitable for the school’s approval process- including product specifications, fire retardant certification, and installation methodology
- Principal or facilities manager approval within the school’s delegation
- For government schools, confirmation of the relevant procurement pathway for the quoted value
- Installation- typically completed outside school hours or during a holiday period to minimise disruption
- Written completion report and product warranty documentation
We provide documentation at every stage of this process specifically because school installations require it. The written assessment, the product certification, the installation record- these aren’t extras; they’re standard deliverables for institutional clients.
What the installation involves
A COLA bird netting installation involves tensioning a purpose-designed bird netting system across the underside of the roof structure, fixed to a perimeter cable that runs around the full boundary of the covered area. The netting is mounted high enough above student head height to avoid contact during normal use, and installed to leave no gaps at attachment points or structural junctions.
The installation height and profile depends on the specific COLA structure: some are open-rafter systems where the netting installs directly below rafter level; others have ceiling sections that require a different mounting approach. Site-specific design matters here.
For schools where the COLA has existing bird activity, the installation sequence is: nest and dropping removal from the rafter space (with appropriate PPE and waste containment), treatment of any parasite activity in the roof void if required, and then netting installation. All of this can typically be completed in a single extended session or over a school holiday period.
Access to height is required for the installation. We use elevated work platforms for COLA installations, which is the appropriate and safe method for working at the heights typical of school COLA structures. All work is carried out under our public liability insurance cover.
The health and safety dimension
Pigeon droppings in a COLA rafter space are not just a cleaning problem. Dried pigeon droppings contain Histoplasma capsulatum, a fungal spore linked to histoplasmosis, and Cryptococcus neoformans, associated with respiratory illness. Disturbing dried droppings- through assembly activity, fans, or wind movement in an open COLA- can aerosolise these particles.
Bird mites from active nests can also migrate from rafter spaces into adjacent classrooms and corridors. We’ve assessed schools where bird mite complaints from students and staff led to significant internal investigation before the source was traced to a COLA rafter nest.
For a principal or facilities manager, the duty of care obligation is clear: a known bird infestation in a student assembly space should be addressed promptly and permanently, not managed indefinitely through regular cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does bird netting in a COLA need to be fire retardant?
Yes. Bird netting installed in enclosed or semi-enclosed structures in NSW school settings should meet fire retardant requirements under relevant building and fire safety standards. Standard commercial bird netting is not fire rated and is not appropriate for school COLA installations. Always request fire retardant certification from your netting supplier as part of the installation documentation.
How long does COLA bird netting last?
Professionally installed fire retardant bird netting with stainless steel cable and fittings is designed for long-term institutional use- typically 7 to 10 years or more with appropriate maintenance. We recommend an annual inspection of the installation to confirm netting tension and perimeter integrity, particularly after storm events.
Can COLA bird netting be installed during term time?
It depends on the COLA’s position and how the installation access is managed. Smaller installations can sometimes be staged around the school day. Larger installations are more practically completed during school holidays to allow uninterrupted access and avoid disruption to assemblies and outdoor learning. We’ll discuss the timeline and access requirements with the facilities team during the assessment.
Who approves COLA bird netting works at a NSW government school?
For government schools, the approval pathway depends on the cost value of the works relative to the principal’s financial delegation and the school’s maintenance budget process. Larger works may need to involve the regional facilities management team or go through a DET procurement pathway. We can provide the written assessment and quote documentation your school needs to move through its approval process efficiently.
One installation. A permanent outcome.
Schools that have installed proper COLA bird netting report the same thing: the problem stops completely. No more cleaning. No more student or parent complaints. No more worry about what’s accumulating in the rafter space above the assembly area.
The installation typically takes one or two days. It lasts for years. The documentation covers your compliance obligations. And the outcome- a clean, safe, bird-free COLA- is exactly what the space was designed to be.
Book a school COLA assessment- free, across Greater Sydney. We provide written scoping documents, product specifications, and fire retardant certification- everything your approval process needs. Free site visit, no obligation. Book your school assessment – thexbird.com.au/booking-form