The all party parliamentary fire safety & rescue group were meeting for the 14th time

We need to stop trying to convince ourselves about the usefulness of sprinklers and start to lobby, in the face of widespread deregulation aimed at reducing red tape that instead is putting fire safety in danger.

That was the message coming out of the All Parliamentary Fire Safety & Rescue Group’s annual seminar, focusing on the use of sprinklers.

Organised by the National Fire Sprinkler Network, the seminar was attended by a record number of MP’s and peers.

Conservative London Assembly member Councillor Brian Coleman, chair of the London Fire and Emergency Authority, made a stark gesture when he addressed the room, asking, “Who is firmly and strongly opposed to acknowledging the benefits of sprinklers in saving lives and property from fire?”

With no such opposition, he called on those present to stop talking and “start to lobby those with whom we need to have an impact.”

Referring perhaps to Bob Neill, MP, the minister responsible for fire and resilience as parliamentary under secretary of state for communities and local government, he indicated that the fire safety industry did not have ‘any posh companies from Mayfair’ in its midst but could still find persuasive means of making their case.

Another MP in attendance, Mike Penning, under secretary of state for transport, has written to Mr Neill to express his concern at the deregulatory approach that current Government is taking.

He wrote, “I was asked why it was that in the UK, warehouses are allowed to be seven times larger than warehouses built elsewhere in Europe before it becomes mandatory for them to be fitted with sprinklers.

“There was a strong feeling among the audience that, although they appreciated the Government’s deregulatory approach, this was an issue where there could be a strong safety reason for tightening up regulations.”

“Regulation saves lives”

The Fire Brigades Union had a similar message with their fire safety advisor emphasising that regulation saves lives.

“This government and many in private industry have railed for years against red tape, against ‘health and safety’ and against the laws employers face.

“The Fire Brigades Union is clear: regulation saves lives.”

The Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) were a little more cautious, indicating that while they advocate the use of sprinklers in all residential properties, they are pragmatic enough to realise that this a long-term goal.

In the short-term, they want to see sprinklers installed in properties where a higher risk of fatality has already been identified. These include social housing, high rise blocks, homes for the elderly, and schools.

Dave Curry of CFOA said, “Due to the great work of fire services and other partners, fire deaths have reduced in this country by half – 800 to 400 – in the last ten years.

“However with an ageing population and contracting public sector, vulnerability in our communities is likely to grow in the next decade.”

Insurance benefit

Brian Coleman, chair of the London Fire and Emergency Authority, addresses the seminar

Among other speakers at the event was Nick Tilley of Chartis Insurance who outlined some other key benefits of the use of sprinklers. These included a reduction in greenhouse gases if fire occurs, as well as the insurability of a property.

The potential loss of earnings to a business was underlined as often being a bigger cost than the physical damage to a building.

MP for North Tyneside, Mary Glindon, cited an example of a fire at a food manufacturer in her constituency which could have been prevented by sprinklers. As a direct result of the fire the business folded and 430 people lost their jobs.

A huge concerted effort was made by local politicians to rebuild the business, and £3.5m of public money, in the shape of the regional development fund, was used to try and achieve this. Ultimately the money and effort was to no avail as the new business fell into administration just one year after opening.

Councillor Coleman also pointed to the Sony warehouse distribution centre fire last year, which burned for a fortnight and cost 80 people their jobs.

Coleman concluded by saying that the Local Government Association has established a working group to develop a lobbying campaign for sprinklers, and this will report back to all Fire and Rescue Services and Planning Authorities.