Now more than ever, the UK needs stable safety solutions in its tower blocks and residential areas.
Less than 1% of council tower blocks across the UK are currently fitted with sprinkler systems. This is a growing concern for residents and the wider population.
In response to the most recent tragedies, London’s most populated council has announced that it will install sprinklers in all tower blocks of 10 storeys or above.
Many other councils have since followed suit, as awareness grows for the need of sprinkler systems to save properties and lives.
The facts
Currently, English law requires that only buildings constructed since 2007 that are taller than 30 metres should have sprinklers fitted. However, this law was not applied retroactively.
According to the British Automatic Fire Sprinklers Association (BAFSA), there are still more than 3,800 housing blocks in the UK that are not fitted with sprinkler systems.
“A sprinkler system would have undoubtedly saved lives at the Grenfell Tower blaze” stated the managing director of the Fire Protection Association.
The Welsh government has become a pioneer of fire safety since announcing new regulations in 2016, as all new and refurbished houses, flats, and care homes have been fitted with sprinkler systems. The rest of the UK should look to emulate their efforts.
The costs
BAFSA claim that retrofitting Grenfell Tower with sprinklers will have cost £200,000 - a small cost considering the effect the tragedy has had across the UK.
That sprinklers were not previously seen to be ‘practical or economically viable’ can be countered by the words of Judge Frances Kirkham, the coroner at the inquest of the Lakanal House fire in south-east London. The evidence indicated that ‘retrofitting of sprinkler systems in high-rise residential buildings might now be possible at lower cost than had previously been thought to be the case, and with modest disruption to residents’.
The Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) determined that it can take 20 minutes for the Fire and Rescue Service to arrive at an incident, and establish the resources required to safely deal with an upper-floor fire. This time delay can cause significant danger to life and property, whereas a fire sprinkler system can control fire growth, giving residents in high-rise residences significant time to make an evacuation.
A solution for installers
In comparison to steel systems, CPVC piping is both reliable and cost-effective when a retrofit is required for a high-rise tower block. CPVC piping offers:
- Savings on labour costs, as CPVC can take half as long to install as steel.
- Flexibility for when expensive changes are forced upon fire sprinkler contractors during installation.
- Lightweight, making installations a one-man job - allowing great savings in total install costs.
Convenience for residents
In addition, CPVC can make a retrofit less of a nuisance for tenants than steel. This is down to:
- A minimal installation time, meaning less disturbance to tenants.
- Less noise and disruption compared to steel - with CPVC, only hand tools are needed, eliminating the need for complicated heat-fusion techniques.
- Long-lasting reliability, as CPVC eliminates scaling and corrosion for over 50 years of service life, ruling out the need for another retrofit.
With so many buildings across the UK still without fire safety, the focus is now on fire protection professionals to deliver proven, effective, and affordable solutions to ensure the safety of thousands.
