Leading built environment bodies call for sprinklers in all schools
Leading bodies in the built environment have signed a joint statement calling on the Government to require the installation of sprinklers in schools, including the retrofitting of sprinklers in existing school buildings when relevant refurbishment takes place.
The joint statement comes ahead of Parliamentary scrutiny on the Building Safety Bill.
The statement signed by all parties reads:
“As leading professional bodies in the built environment, we believe further action is required to improve the fire safety of buildings in the UK.
"Lives, stock and property are saved by the use of Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS), which includes sprinklers. At present, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland differ in their requirements on sprinklers in schools yet the science of fire knows no political or geographical boundaries. Fire safety of occupants and firefighters is of primary concern. Loss of schools in a community can have devastating effects. Recent research has evidenced the number of fires in schools and the benefits AFSS would bring.
"Achieving a more consistent approach to life safety and sprinkler installations in schools that draws on best practice from all the UK nations would provide clarity to the industry and help better protect the public and communities.
"We support the installation of AFSS in all new and converted school buildings of any height and retrofitting to existing buildings when refurbishment occurs as ‘consequential improvements’ where a building is subject to 'material alterations’.”
Each of the professional bodies will bring forward guidance for our own professionals in line with this statement in the absence of government legislation.
Signed by:
- CIOB – Chartered Institute of Building
- NFCC – National Fire Chiefs Council
- RIBA – Royal Institute of British Architects
- RICS – Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
This article originally appeared on the CIOB website. It was published on 19 October 2020.
--CIOB
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Addressing building failures: Grenfell Tower and Edinburgh schools.
- Automatic fire sprinkler.
- BS 9999: Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings.
- Building Safety Bill.
- CIOB articles.
- Fire.
- Fire detection and alarm system.
- Fire protection engineering.
- Fire Safety Bill.
- Making the case for sprinklers and dispelling myths.
- Overview of automatic sprinkler system design and operation.
- Risk assessment under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
- Sprinkler.
- Sprinkler head.
- Sprinkler systems explained: A guide to sprinkler installation standards and rules.
[edit] External resources
Featured articles and news
Designing sustainability and performance into buildings
Specifying and selecting sustainable resilient timber products.
Modifying wood to improve resistance to decay and movement.
A last minute, long look for built environment professionals.
The architecture of creative reuse. Book review.
Installing solar panels on listed structures.
Sustainable development global goals, history in progress?
"Unless we act now, the 2030 Agenda will become an epitaph for a world that might have been."
Mike Kagioglou FCIOB named CIOB President
'Sustainable Development Goals must be focus for construction'
BSRIA training; a look at what's on offer
From energy management to compliance training.
TESP video warns to beware of rogue trainers.
Highlighting the slippery tactics of non-approved providers.
New Building Safety Wiki launched
Boosting awareness and understanding of the new fire safety regime.
New playbook on AI in construction published by CIOB
How to get to grips with, and the best from AI.
Digital Construction Report NBS
BIM, cloud, off-site, immersive tech, AI, twins and sustainability.
ECA learning zone and industry focus video series
From updates and amendments to circular economy, emergency lighting and much more.