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London Assembly calls for mandatory sprinklers in tower blocks
Sprinklers should be mandatory in all new build high-rise flats, a London Assembly report into fire safety has said.
Building regulations currently only require sprinklers to be installed in new tower blocks of 30m (10 storeys) or higher.
But ministers should change the rules to lower that threshold to all buildings taller than 18m (six storeys), the report said, as well as developing “a road map with clear milestones” to make sprinklers compulsory in every residential building in England.
Assembly members also called for all new care homes and sheltered housing to require sprinklers.
London mayor Sadiq Khan should set aside £50m to fund retrofitting sprinklers in 200 “high-risk” existing buildings during the next five years, the report added.
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The report was written by Labour assembly member Navin Shah, on behalf of the planning committee.
“What happened at Grenfell Tower and the people who lived there must never be allowed to happen again. Fire is unforgiving and we must not be complacent about its tragic consequences,” said Mr Shah.
“We are behind the rest of the world when it comes to safeguarding Londoners from the horrific consequences of fire. It is time we act swiftly and decisively to change this.”
Wales, Norway, Finland and some part of the US already require sprinklers in all new homes.
Mr Shah acknowledged that retrofitting sprinklers in all existing buildings “is not immediately feasible”.
The estimated cost of this work in London tower blocks above 30m is £500m.
London Fire Commissioner Dany Cotton and the Royal Institute of British Architects have also previously called for sprinklers to be made mandatory.
Never Again campaign
Inside Housing has launched a campaign to improve fire safety following the Grenfell Tower fire
Never Again: campaign asks
Inside Housing is calling for immediate action to implement the learning from the Lakanal House fire, and a commitment to act – without delay – on learning from the Grenfell Tower tragedy as it becomes available.
LANDLORDS
- Take immediate action to check cladding and external panels on tower blocks and take prompt, appropriate action to remedy any problems
- Update risk assessments using an appropriate, qualified expert.
- Commit to renewing assessments annually and after major repair or cladding work is carried out
- Review and update evacuation policies and ‘stay put’ advice in light of risk assessments, and communicate clearly to residents
GOVERNMENT
- Provide urgent advice on the installation and upkeep of external insulation
- Update and clarify building regulations immediately – with a commitment to update if additional learning emerges at a later date from the Grenfell inquiry
- Fund the retrofitting of sprinkler systems in all tower blocks across the UK (except where there are specific structural reasons not to do so)
We will submit evidence from our research to the Grenfell public inquiry.
The inquiry should look at why opportunities to implement learning that could have prevented the fire were missed, in order to ensure similar opportunities are acted on in the future.
