Council gives go-ahead for sprinklers in wake of Lakanal

Southwark Council is installing sprinklers to its sheltered housing schemes and temporary accommodation hostels as part of £32 million plans to improve fire safety in the wake of the Lakanal House tragedy.

A coroner’s report following the fire at the 14-storey tower block in July 2009, in which six residents died, recommended that the council considered retrofitting sprinklers to high-rise residential buildings.

Following a feasibility study, Southwark’s cabinet has decided against installing sprinklers in general needs blocks, but has given the go-ahead to install sprinklers to existing and future sheltered housing schemes and temporary accommodation hostels.

It plans to retrofit existing properties by September 2016 at an estimated cost of £4.9 million.

The combined annual repair and maintenance bill will be £25,100.

Jan Taranczuk, vice-chair of the Chartered Institute of Housing London regional board, said: ‘It is an added level of protection - albeit expensive - for [Southwark’s] most vulnerable residents.’

Council officers advised against installing personal protection sprinkler systems for vulnerable residents in general needs blocks unable to self-evacuate, citing the effects of a triggered sprinkler system on medical needs, life support and medical equipment.

Southwark will spend a further £3.6 million by March 2015 installing automatic battery-powered smoke/heat detection to general needs-tenanted council homes in the 142 blocks included in the study.

The same equipment will be installed to all tenanted council homes over the next 10 to 15 years at an estimated cost of £23.4 million - or £703 per property.

A cabinet report in December noted there were no funds identified to cover the £8.6 million required for the approved works between 2013/14 and 2016/17 and it was a priority to identify resources.

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