Did you know that ...

Automatic sprinkler systems are used more than any other fixed fire protection system and over 40 million sprinklers are fitted world-wide each year.

Sprinkler systems have been proven in use for well over 100 years. Possibly the oldest in Britain was fitted in 1812 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and updated form is still in use today.

Losses from fires in buildings protected with sprinklers are estimated to be 1/10 of those in unprotected buildings.

In buildings fully protected by sprinklers:

• 99% of fires were controlled by sprinklers alone

• 60% of fires were controlled by the spray from no more than 4 sprinklers

Source: European statistics over 10 year period

• Accidental discharge of water from all causes is 1 in 500,000 (per year of service)

Source: LPC

• Accidental discharge of water due to manufacturing defects is 1 in 14,000,000 (per year of service)

Source: FM (USA) and LPC (UK) statistics

Sprinklers SAVE LIVES, SAVE MONEY, SAVE TIME.

The latest version of Approved Document B in support of the Building Regulations and Scottish Building Standards Technical Handbook 2005 incorporates clear recognition of the value of sprinklers in improving levels of safety for occupants as well as in preventing the spread of fire. In conjunction with a fire engineered strategy, the full benefit to developers, architects and end users can be realised with sprinklers becoming a self financing element of most building projects.

Overview

People at increased risk of fire include a disproportionate number of the very young, the very old, people with special need and - it has to be said, those affected by drugs and alcohol - are the people whose deaths feature in this grim annual tally.

One other group also features in the list of the most vulnerable and that is those who live in shared accommodation - sometimes known as 'homes in multiple occupation' or HMO's. Statistics suggest that a person living in an HMO is eight times more likely to die in a fire than someone living in a single family dwelling. Some local authorities now recommend to landlords of HMO's where there are three or more storeys in height should fit sprinklers.

In Scotland, legislation introduced in 2005 now requires all new care and residential homes to be fitted with sprinkler protection and in some areas, sheltered housing is also being so protected.

So sprinklers, unlike smoke detectors which can only warn of the need for evacuation, can actually save those who cannot help themselves.