Last updated: 05/09/2019, 4:01 PM

Brigade response to Government’s announcement to consult on sprinklers in high rise buildings

05/09/2019 15:57
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Dan Daly, Assistant Commissioner for Fire Safety, said: “We welcome the news that the Government have listened to our concerns on sprinklers and intend to consult on the inclusion of sprinklers in new residential high rise buildings at 18 metres and above.

“For over ten years, we have lobbied for more buildings to have sprinklers as it is a simple way to save more lives and reduce the risks to firefighters. The current guidance accompanying building regulations states that all new residential buildings over 30 metres should have sprinklers installed and this is not good enough. 

“Sprinklers provide much needed time when a fire breaks out in any building with people in it. They are the only system that tackles the fire immediately and they protect people and properties. Modern fire suppression systems target the seat of fire rather than an entire building. The impact of fire on people’s lives and property far outweighs the monetary cost.

“The Brigade will do all it can to explain the life and property saving value of sprinklers during this consultation.”

In our submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on its consultation on Approved Document B of the building regulations, we called for automatic fire suppression systems, which includes sprinklers, to be fitted in a number of buildings including:

  • All purpose built blocks of flats, or at the very least all blocks over six storeys.
  • All homes where vulnerable people live.
  • All buildings housing vulnerable residents such as a care homes or sheltered accommodation.

The Brigade also submitted a separate consultation response to the Home Office’s call for evidence in relation to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Among the key areas the Brigade has been calling for review is for Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS) such as sprinklers to be mandatory in a range of buildings, particularly in all buildings housing vulnerable people and in schools.

As part of the Brigade’s #SprinklersHit campaign, we urged Londoners to write to their MP and ask them to support the Brigade’s calls.