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By: BlazeMaster EMEA on 01-Jun-2021 04:17:00
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Care Home Considerations and How To Answer Them

As legislation spells exciting new changes for residences in the UK, fresh attention has been drawn towards the corners of our communities that are not yet required to be fitted with fire sprinklers by law. One such part of our community is the residential care sector. 

 

Fire safety industry leaders such as BAFSA have spoken out about this oversight over the years, in support of fire sprinkler systems, for many reasons. As BlazeMaster® Fire Protection Systems prepare installers around the UK for many new installation projects, we wanted to shed light on this important issue.


Why do Care Homes Need Fire Protection?

When considering the validity of fire protection in the UK’s care homes, you only need to think about the specific and individual needs of the occupants themselves.

According to a report published by BAFSA, investigating the unique challenges of care homes, there are multiple special considerations that need to be taken into account and why care homes in particular need additional fire protection:

  • Most importantly, many residents need assistance to aid their escape in the event of a fire. In a more recent study by BAFSA, it was revealed that only 10.2% of care home occupants were able to self-evacuate. The remainder required staff assistance.

  • The evacuation process is likely to take longer than a typical residence; measures must be taken to mitigate this risk during a crucial time.

  • Vulnerable residents’ initial reaction to smoke and fire is likely to be more unpredictable and challenging to manage for the care home staff on duty.

 

The Global Response

The above challenges have been answered in various ways across the UK and beyond:

  • Scotland - All new built care homes and sheltered housing have been required to be fitted with fire sprinkler systems since 2005. 

  • Wales - All new care homes and social housing have been required to be fitted with fire sprinklers since 2014. 

  • England and Northern Ireland - There is currently no legal requirement for sprinklers to be fitted in new care homes and sheltered housing. 

  • The USA, Hong Kong and Australia - All have published guidance recommending automatic fire suppression systems in care homes

According to research conducted in the USA, sprinklers are considered to be the most effective measure in nursing homes. The research concluded that there has never been a multiple-death fire in a fully sprinklered nursing home.

If fire sprinklers are proven to be effective around the world, while the legal requirement in England and Northern Ireland is still waiting to become a reality, is UK sprinkler technology up to the challenge?


Ready for the Challenge

BlazeMaster® CPVC fire sprinklers are designed, tested and installed in accordance with UK, European and Global standards, including:

  • BS 9251 - UK standard 
  • BS EN 12845:2015 - European Standard
  • A1:2019 - European Standard adopted by UK 
  • NFPA 13, 13D, 13R - North American Standard 


BlazeMaster® CPVC is approved for installation in all commercial Light Hazard properties such as hospitals and schools (excluding kitchens, plant, store and laundry rooms) and also residential and domestic properties, as defined by the LPC (Loss Prevention Council). 


It is also approved for installation in some Ordinary Hazard structures as defined by the LPC. These include nursing and care homes.


For new build residential care homes and sheltered housing, sprinklers offer architectural trade-offs that actually allow increased space, more spacious rooms and more beds, enabling care homes to protect more vulnerable residents.


Retrofitting an existing care home can be managed and implemented disruption-free, with no requirement for heat welding tools or loud machinery. 


As campaigning continues as fiercely as ever and while the needs of our communities are increasingly being recognised, we believe it is time to prepare for fire sprinkler installation on an unprecedented national scale. Let us help you prepare. 

Download your copy of The Orange Book for the complete guide on CPVC fire sprinkler specification, to fully prepare your teams for the challenges ahead.


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