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www.ilkestonlife.com ILKESTON LIFE January 2022 5
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I was reading an earlier copy of
or wise? ticle by the Chief Fire Officer of Sprinklers save lives
or wise?
Ilkeston Life when I read an ar-
Derbyshire Fire Service regard-
ing the use of Fire Sprinklers. I
queues outside on a Saturday Residential and domestic sprin- the room of origin again reducing Document B Fire Safety in
morning to know that what would like to add my support for klers have been around for many the amount of fire damage. Buildings does give guidance on
they’re selling is exceptional - and them. years, so the technology is not 10. They save lives. the fitting of sprinklers but would
people are happy to wait to be First of all, to the best of my new, although the development only apply to new build and major
served. knowledge in this country only of water mist systems is proving The cost of a typical installation refurbishments. (Part B Appendix
Folk used to come from far and two people have died in a build- very effective in fighting fires and in a new build 4-bedroom house E refers).
wide to shop in Ilkeston. ing fire protected by sprinklers, greatly reducing smoke levels near would be in the region of £2,800,
Yes, that was in the days of the one a gentleman who was inca- to 100% visibility in seconds. less than 1% of the cost of the Basically residential sprinklers are
Co-op, Marks and Spencers, pacitated by alcohol intake and an build. only legally required in new build
Woolworths, etc., as well as a big elderly lady who fell into the fire The many advantages of such Retro fitting in say a 14-storey and refurbished properties subject
market, but if we all shop locally, installations are as follows: block of flats where all the flats to Building Regulations with
who knows, big names may be and died of her injuries. 1. They automatically detect a fire are fitted with sprinklers would two storeys more than 4.5 metres
tempted to come back. And that There were 240 fire related 24 hours a day. cost around £1,800 per flat. All above the ground level.
will be good news for small shops fatalities recorded to year ending 2. They fight the fire in it’s early installations would be installed to The fitting of fire sprinklers does
too. March 2021 of which 186 were in stages and would probably extin- the British Standard BS 9251. not mitigate the need for automat-
L. Coe dwelling fires. There were 6,347 guish it or at least control it. Taking the sample of the 14-sto- ic smoke detectors, which under
Photo of the former Co-op supermartket non-fatal casualties of which 2603 3. They reduce the heat in the rey block of flats with 4 flats per normal circumstances would
and department store: Garth Newton required hospital treatment. room of origin. floor the total cost would be in the detect a fire before the sprinkler
4. A typical sprinkler head oper- region of £100,800. For all the head operates allowing immediate
intervention.
ates at 68 degrees C. reasons given above it would be a Based on my personal thoughts
5. Domestic sprinklers are usually worthwhile investment in life and about sprinklers, does it not make
fed from the water mains and do property protection. sense to fit such systems? And
not require large water storage At the tragic fire at Grenfell in why is there a reluctance not to
tanks. London, had sprinklers been make them mandatory in all new
6. The only sprinkler head to op- fitted the tragedy would not have builds like the Welsh government
erate will be that affected by fire, happened. The fire would not have did in 2016 to all new dwellings.
not all heads operate thereby broken out of the room of origin I must acknowledge the help from
reducing collateral water damage. through the windows and it would Nationwide Fire Sprinklers of
(Not like Hollywood films such as not have ignited the cladding. Nottingham in providing the cur-
Die Hard). Taking the example of the 14-sto- rent financial figures and sprinkler
7. Sprinklers can be fitted retro- rey block of flats. The cost of developments information.
spectively replacing the cladding could run Michael Stone,
8. Sprinklers can be used to off set into millions of pounds compared Graduate of the Institute of Fire
some of the more onerous Build- to fitting sprinklers for around engineers and a Member of the
ing Regulations. £100,800. Institution of Fire Prevention
9. The fire would be confined to Building Regulations Approved Officers.