Should all UK schools have sprinklers fitted to combat arson?
It has recently come to media attention that almost half of all newly built schools in England do not have fire safety sprinkler systems.
Although the number of arson attacks fell slightly last year, the cost of damage has been estimated to have risen to £65m. Shockingly, every week 20 schools are damaged or have been destroyed by fire and this led to the government issuing guidance two years ago advising on sprinklers to be fitted in almost all new schools, although it did not make this a mandatory requirement.
Stuart Fisher (Wessex Fire & Security Director) commented in the press saying; “Whilst it may seem an obvious step to fit sprinklers to new and existing schools, especially where there is a heightened risk of arson attacks; it must be understood that water sprinklers are primarily designed to extinguish fires and protect property. Early fire detection and warning, through properly sited smoke detection, correctly fitted and tested fire alarms and regular evacuation drills are more important, as these protect people.”
According to BBC News, whilst there is no official count for how many schools in the UK have sprinklers fitted it is estimated to be fewer than 500 of the 32,000 schools, less than 2%.
Mr Fisher added; “Whilst a sprinkler system may prove to be a good investment by reducing the cost and disruption a major fire can cause, it should always be secondary to systems that protect the pupils, teachers, staff and visitors.
