Wales will go down in the History of Fire Sprinklers as the first country in the world where fire sprinklers will be compulsory in all new homes. Whether this ultimately showers accolades on the Welsh remains to be seen.
The law was passed unanimously by the Welsh Assembly and will apply to newly built houses and blocks of flats, as well as care homes and university halls of residence.
The measure was also backed by Wales' three Fire and Rescue services, the Chief Fire Officers Association (UK), the Fire Brigades Union and many fire sprinkler campaigners, including the National Fire Sprinkler Network. Given the recent report that Firefighters were being prevented from tackling some fires and from rescuing a poor woman from a mine shaft because it was deemed too risky under health and safety legislation, they clearly need all the help they can get. Will mountain rescue teams or Sea Rescue Pilots be the next to fall under the HSE cartwheel as both activities are clearly just as dangerous.
Absolutely potty.
The National House Building Council (NHBC) was sanguine on the decision opting to take a neutral stance. It rightly raised some questions regarding cost effectiveness and whether existing water pressures would enable fire sprinklers to work in many homes.
Now broadly I firmly support the use of fire sprinklers particularly in public buildings and multi-occupancy buildings, hotels and residences. I do have some issues with private dwellings. Fire sprinkler systems do work of that there is no doubt. What is of some concern when considering private single occupancy homes is who will provide the ongoing servicing, testing and maintenance to ensure they continue to do so.
In public buildings, businesses including care homes, hotels and industrial premises there are legal safeguards in place through the Regulatory Reform (Fire safety) Order that if followed compel these sectors to ensure the Fire Sprinkler System is in working order. The RRO specifically excludes Private Dwellings
