LFRA Highlights the Importance of Sprinklers for Schools & Businesses in Preventing Fire Damage

by Heather Hall Heather Hall has led the Coordinating team at LFRA

Fire Suppression Systems not only save lives they help prevent extensive damage to Buildings and Businesses. Millions of pounds are spent every year in repairing Fire damage so should ‘Responsible Persons’ and Designers give Sprinklers more consideration?

 

London Fire Brigade announced that new figures have shown that no school, which had a Fire so far this year had Sprinklers fitted. The Brigade has long been calling for Sprinklers to become a mandatory requirement in Schools. In particular, they want Sprinklers to be mandatory in all new School builds and for all Schools to be retrofitted with Sprinklers during major refurbishment. Sprinklers are especially important during the summer holidays when buildings are empty and Fires can smoulder undetected, causing extensive and expensive damage. To read more click here

 

Sprinklers are not only suitable for Schools any Business should consider them as they are the only Fire Safety System that detects a Fire, suppresses it and raises the alarm!

So how does a Suppression System work?

When the temperature reaches 60 – 70 degrees, the Sprinkler will spray water across the room and suppress the Fire that has caused the rise in temperature. The Sprinklers are triggered one by one when the temperature rises, they do not all go off together saving unnecessary water damage.

Most importantly a Suppression System can provide time for Students, Staff and Customers to escape if a Fire breaks out.

Ideally Designers and Architects should consider Sprinklers at design stage, as this is the most cost-effective way to install a system. By introducing Sprinklers into a design, it will allow the Architect/Designer more creativity for internal layouts as it will reduce compartmentation restrictions. 

But is a Suppression System (Sprinklers) enough Fire Prevention?

If you are the identified ‘Responsible Person’ or ‘Duty Holder’ you must ensure that you install the correct Sprinkler system. You must also consider the following…

·         Fire Alarm System

·         Fire Extinguishers

·         Fire Doors

·         Emergency Escape Lighting

·         Signage

The Fire Risk Assessment for the premise should identify what Fire Safety Protection is required. The new legislation introduced by the Fire Safety Act places the responsibility on the identified ‘Responsible Person’ or ‘Duty Holder’ to ensure that the appointed Fire Risk Assessor is accredited and can supply a ‘suitable and sufficient’ Fire Risk Assessment. But how do they know if a Fire Risk Assessor has met the competency criteria?

A third-party certified provider gives assurance that the risk assessment will be conducted by a competent assessor who will go beyond the cheap, basic tick-box approach in order to meet the ‘suitable and sufficient’ legislative requirement. It is imperative that the ‘Responsible Person’ or ‘Duty Holder’ checks that the Fire Risk Assessor is accredited.

If you are a London School, Care Home, Office, Restaurant, Hotel, Shopping Centre or any business that requires a Fire Risk Assessment then you may want to contact London Fire Risk Assessments.

 

London Fire Risk Assessments are completely independent of any companies offering Fire Safety Protection Services therefore their advice is unbiased. They have been established for over 15 years and all their Fire Safety Risk Assessors have qualified with the Institution of Fire Engineers the Fire Protection Association, CS Todd Associates and the Institute of Fire Safety Managers. They are on the IFSM Register of accredited Fire Risk Assessors and the National Register of Accredited Fire Risk Assessors. They are fully insured, and all their Assessors are retired Fire Brigade Fire Safety Officers, so they know how to put Fires out and how to prevent them!

 

For further information or to book a Fire Safety Inspection and Audit for your London premise then call 0781 8888626 alternatively click here

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Created on Apr 26th 2023 07:47. Viewed 141 times.

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