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