In response to the government’s consultation paper, Sprinklers and other fire safety measures in high-rise blocks of flats, the National Fire Chief's Council (NFCC) has said the threshold for sprinklers should be lower. 

Roy Wilsher, chair of the NFCC, released a statement on behalf of the Council, stating, "NFCC has previously championed the requirement for sprinklers from in high-rise block of flats above 18m, connected to a full review of linked measures in ADB.

“Currently there is a gap for protection of buildings between 11m and 18m. With the threshold for sprinklers now being considered separately from many closely related safety measures, we believe the threshold should be lowered to 11m.”

He is calling for legislation to be strengthened to ensure that fire-safety standards are brought up and to prevent the building sector from applying a ‘like for like’ replacement, leading to declining fire safety in buildings.

NFCC sprinkler lead, Gavin Tomlinson, added, “The recent fire at the Bolton Student Accommodation highlights only too well that fires do not discriminate, and that an 18m threshold is arbitrary.

“The NFCC will continue to lobby for more widespread use of sprinklers in many building types, and especially where they are home to vulnerable residents."

The response in full can be read here.

Original Source
24Housing