MP Pledges to Take Sprinkler Question to The House
In a recent speech, Meg Munn MP for Sheffield Heeley pledged to fight for automatic fire sprinklers to be installed in high rise buildings not only because she would be happier knowing that her constituents were protected from fire but also because she believed everyone in the country has a right to that protection.
More than 40 UK fire safety professionals, local authority officers and elected members gathered at South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Training Centre in Sheffield to celebrate the successful completion of the 5 week long project to retrofit an automatic fire sprinkler system in the 47 flats in the Handbank block in Callow Mount. The effective management of the project and co-operation offered by Sheffield Homes meant that the residents, many elderly and vulnerable, did not have to leave their homes while the work was carried out.
Speaking at the launch of the retrofit high rise sprinkler project in Callow Mount, Meg said she would, at the next opportunity, table a Parliamentary Question as to why wider use is not being made of sprinklers in such blocks. She asked to be kept informed adding: "I'm pleased this project in my constituency has demonstrated that sprinklers can be fitted on existing high rise blocks without difficulty. It’s time for Government and local authorities to act to prevent further unnecessaryloss of life."
The Callow Mount project is an excellent example of how many groups can collaborate in the public interest. This project brought together interested parties from the fire and rescue service, insurance, local government, social housing and the sprinkler industry working together for the benefit of the people of Sheffield and to demonstrate that high rise blocks can be retrofitted with automatic fire sprinkler systems in a practical and economical exercise with minimum disruption.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Neil Hessell, from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue, said: “This is an innovative and ground-breaking project, and we are delighted that BAFSA have chosen to pilot it in Sheffield. The sprinkler system furtherimproves the safety of the Callow Mount residents, and the firefighters who would respond in the unlikely event of a fire.”
Sprinklers have a huge role to play
One of the partners, CFOA, represented by Neil Gibbins, DCFO Devon & Somerset F&RS, said “The Chief Fire Officers’ Association is delighted to be invited to the launch of this exciting project. A huge amount of hard work has gone in to making this happen and all the partners involved should be applauded for their foresight and determination to make sprinklers, in this block of flats, a reality”.
He went on : “There has been a number of serious fires in flats around the country which has lead to the tragic deaths of both residents and firefighters. Fires such as Lakanal House and Shirley Towers have lead us all to question and revisit the design and management of tower blocks. Throughout the Fire & Rescue Service of the UK, we have had a single voice in stating that sprinklers have a huge role to play in fire safety in the future. We have been calling and campaigning for greater incorporation of sprinklers in Building Regulations.
No response from the Government
A Sprinkler Coordination Group spokesperson said that he was sorry that there had as yet been no response from Government to the news of the project. He added ‘Projects such as this and many more throughout the country are providing better quality data on the costs of such system and the case for sprinklers becomes ever more compelling. This is why this project is so important; firstly for the long term safety of the residents of this tower block and secondly for the contribution to the growing body of evidence that sprinklers have an important role in protecting life, business and the environment in the future.”
Sprinklers save lives in Scotland
Commenting on the status of sprinklers in Scotland , Keith MacGillivray MBE Sprinkler Coordination Group Scotland added “ We retro fitted sprinklers in three multi-storey blocks in Ayrshire in Scotland – about ten years ago thus while the costs are neither recent nor relevant, the effects of sprinklers in these flats is clear for everyone to see. We’ve had two, separate, serious fires in the blocks and on both occasions the sprinklers acted effectively. There was no loss of life, there were no injuries and there was minimal fire damage. The fire service were in attendance for about 20 minutes to mop up the water and the residents did not have to leave the block of flats.
There is minimal cost in terms of maintenance. Once a year they’re required to have a visual inspection and the on-going costs are absolutely minimal. It varies from company to company but an average would be £250 for a small block of flats.
By contrast, a fire in a single flat would generally cost somewhere in the region of about £10,000 in damage. Many more could be more expensive – depends on the contents, the décor, the size of the flat. But £10,000 is a good, average cost to start with”
A remarkable project
Warrington Certification Limited, which operates the FIRAS scheme for installers of fire protection system, have overseen the design, installation and commissioning of the project. Ian Warrington, FIRAS Manager, expressed Warrington delight in being involved “We have contributed to a “blue print” of how sprinkler systems based on BS9251 requirements can be successfully retrofitted into a high rise block of flats. In doing this we are pushing the boundaries of how such systems may be used.
The resident liaison continued throughout this project was particularly something of which those involved maybe proud and is a model of how to engage those whose homes are where the work was carried out.
My hope is that where the team involved in this remarkable project have led others will follow as we have proved it can be done.”
A group of people with the same objective
In his address to the gathering, Chairman of BAFSA Council, Peter Armstrong stressed that “ the project had in fact been a Sprinkler Co-ordination Group (SCG )initiative managed on its behalf by BAFSA. The SCG is made up of a group of people all with the same objective – who have come together to avoid duplication of effort and to strengthen the efforts that we all make”. Alongside BAFSA, members of the SCG include Business Sprinkler Alliance, CFOA, European Fire Sprinkler Network, FM Global, London Fire Brigade, National Fire Sprinkler Network, Sprinklers Scotland and Zurich Insurance.
A fully documented guide
In concluding the event, Project Manager, Steve Seaber, confirmed that he will be producing a comprehensive report “This report will form the basis for a programme to promote the potential use of fire sprinklers to enhance the safety ofresidents to local housing authorities and private landlords, fire and rescue services and the fire protection industry. It will provide a fully documented guide to the retrofit process, including comprehensive true and full life costings for all aspects of the project. The report will address issues which may require attention and how sprinklers could be used to protect similar buildings and those of other designs and sizes. In addition to the interest generated in the UK, requests for information are already being received from other countries” .
The report is expected to be published in early 2012.
© Copyright 2011 Means Of Escape Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2011 Think Agency - Website Designers Kent